adjective Uncommon

luminous

LOO-mih-nuhs

Luminous (adjective) means giving off light; glowing. Example: “The watch face is luminous in the dark.”

adjective

Giving off light; glowing.

"The watch face is luminous in the dark."

"A luminous full moon lit up the garden."

Clear and easy to understand; strikingly lucid.

"Her essay offered a luminous account of the crisis."

How to use luminous

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishGlowing with light, or (of writing/explanation) unusually clear and illuminating.

Easily confused with

luminescent →

Common pairings

luminous paint luminous glow luminous prose

Word forms

more luminous comparative, most luminous superlative

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The watch face is _____ in the dark.

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French lumineus, from Latin luminosus, "full of light."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for luminous

yous nous pious joyous heinous ominous curious anxious copious tenuous tedious spurious

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Frequently asked questions

What does “luminous” mean?

The word “luminous” means giving off light; glowing. In plain terms, glowing with light, or (of writing/explanation) unusually clear and illuminating.

How do you pronounce “luminous”?

“Luminous” is pronounced LOO-mih-nuhs (/ˈluːmɪnəs/ in IPA).

How do you use “luminous” in a sentence?

Here is “luminous” used in a sentence: “The watch face is luminous in the dark.”

What part of speech is “luminous”?

“Luminous” is an adjective.

Where does the word “luminous” come from?

The word “luminous” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Middle French lumineus, from Latin luminosus, "full of light.".

Is “luminous” a common word?

“Luminous” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “luminous” have?

“Luminous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: giving off light; glowing.