lumen-, lumin-, lum-

A panel, made up of photoconductive and electroluminescent layers that are used as either a positive or a negative image intensifier, depending on the amplitude and the phase of its two power supply voltages: The electroluminescent-photoconductive image intensifier receives the image and converts it into electrical signals; and subsequently, the electroluminescent layer converts the signals into a brighter light.

The emission or radiation of lucidity resulting from the application of an electric field on to a phosphor which is activated by other procedures: In the room that did not have windows, the student used electrophotoluminescence to provide brightness without overheating the small space.

The transmission of luminousness to an object by the use of clusters of very thin threadlike filaments of such substances as glass or plastic: The fiber-illumination used to incandesce the room produced a soft almost hazy shimmer, glowing through the fine strands.

Fulgent production which may occur with electrodes of certain metals: When aluminum, or tantalum, are immersed in suitable electrolytes and the electric current is passed between them, the result is galvanoluminescence.

The children's eyes opened in wonder at the sight of the galvanoluminescences that glistened on the Christmas tree.

The intensity of light per unit of area on a surface that is exposed to light: Illuminance is the amount of radiance, evaluated according to its capacity to produce visual stimulation and which reaches a section of a surface area during a period of time.

Illuminance is measured in lux (the SI unit of illumination), equal to one lumen per square and a "lumen" is the unit of luminous flux in the International System (SI) equal to the amount of light given out through a solid angle by a source of one "candela" intensity radiating equally in all directions.

A "candela", which is the SI unit of luminous intensity and symbolized as cd, is equal to the strength of illuminance in a given direction of a source that emits monochromatic (one color) radiation of frequency.

Anything that produces or gives off a beam: The flashlight which the hiker carried was the illuminant which made it possible for the hikers to find their campground after it became dark.

1. To make something visible or bright with effulgence, or be lit up: Esther sat near the window so the sunlight would illuminate her sewing better and she could then easily fasten the buttons on the shirt.
2. To decorate something with lamps for a celebration: The youth groups planned to illuminate the statues in the city park with bright lanterns in time for the holidays.
3. To make something clear, or easier to understand and to appreciate: Dr. Murphy's explanation was illuminating on the subject of portrait photography and so Jim was able to appreciate black and white portraits easier.

Footnotes illuminated the difficult definitions in the dictionary of scientific terms.

4. To add colored letters, illustrations, and designs to a manuscript or the borders of a page: In the ancient monasteries, the resident monks used their time and skills to illuminate manuscripts, enhancing the beauty of the words with the beauty of the pages.
5. To provide someone with knowledge or with intellectual or spiritual enlightenment: Mary Jo went on a spiritual retreat for the weekend and felt illuminated by the workshops and lectures she attended.

1. Informative and enlightening, often by revealing or emphasizing facts that were previously obscure or not comprehensible: The illuminating words from one of her colleagues made it possible for Rosetta to understand the crisis that had occurred at work.
2. Providing new or useful information, so something becomes clearer and easier to understand: The art history course Sue was taking in her seniors' development services proved to be most illuminating; especially, when there were also trips to the local art gallery.

An earlier name for kerosene: Illuminating oil was once suitable for burning in order to provide brightness in lamps, etc.

The general store in the village had two bottles of illuminating oil on the shelf, as well as lamps in which to burn it, to provide light in the cabin where Jane was staying during her vacation.

1. The provision of radiance to make something visible or bright, or the fact of being lit up: Turning on only three of the five ceiling spotlights provided just enough illumination for the pianist to perform his concert.
2. The amount or strength of effulgence available in a place or for a purpose: In the display case at the museum, the illumination was adjusted so as not to harm the artifacts by exposing them to too much bright shine.
3. The application and distribution of a beam to a subject: The scientist asked the students to bring the illumination closer to the microscope so the microbes could be seen easier.
4. The process of clarifying or explaining something: The volunteer guide at the gallery offered an exceptional illumination about the history of the Arctic artists and their work.
5. Intellectual or spiritual enlightenment: The pilgrim experienced a sense of illumination after spending a week with a religious retreat in the mountains.
6. A colored letter, design, or illustration decorating a manuscript or page, or the art or act of decorating written texts: The monks used gold leaf for part of the illumination of the religious texts they were carefully copying.
7. In medicine, throwing a beam on the body or a part or into a cavity for diagnostic purposes or shedding luster on an object under a microscope: The surgeon used a fiber optic instrument to bring illumination to the open chest surgery so he could see any possible blood clots.

1. Any one of various groups of people in history claiming to have received special religious or spiritual education: There was a group of Illuminati who went every year to a retreat at the seaside to reflect on their spiritual commitments.
2. Various societies, sects or other people claiming religious or intellectual cultivation: The novel Irene was reading was focused on a group of individuals who claimed to be Illuminati, believing they had been given exceptional intellectual insights to profound religious beliefs.
3. An alleged global, elite, secret society that has as its ultimate objective the subjugation of humanity: The Illuminati from the secret New World Order infiltrated the banking system of the country and confiscated all of the funds to finance their objective of corrupting the world banks.

To give lucidity to or to provide and to brighten an area with beams: The sports stadium was illumined with floodlights."

1. A psychotic state of exaltation in which one has delusions and hallucinations of communion with supernatural or exalted beings: The patient Elke was described as being in a state of exalted illuminism when she claimed that she could heal the sick.
2. A system of belief in which the adherents assume that they have received special knowledge: The monks at the monastery adhered to a set of illuminisms which they felt provided them with exceptional spiritual experiences.

Translation: "In Thy light we shall see the light."

Also translated as, "In Thy light shall we see light." Motto of Columbia University, New York City, USA; the College of Great Falls; Great Falls, Montana; and Ohio Wesleyan University in Delaware, Ohio.

1. A line on a chart or a map that connects points of equal shining intensity: Astronomy students were utilizing the presentation of the isolumes in order to analyze the various degrees of brightness of the planets and the stars.
2. An intense or strong effulgence of nature; such as, from the sun: Some sea animals follow isolumes up and down water columns.

As sunlight decreases in the late afternoon, an isolume moves toward the sea surface, and the migrating community follows such radiance with a precision seldom seen in other natural populations.

Daily or seasonal changes in an isolume, or lucid intensity, seems to be the most likely stimulus for vertical migrations of some sea creatures.