Radiate

/ˈɹeɪdieɪt/ adj, noun, verb

adj, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: One of the Radiata.
  • Grammar: radiate is listed as adj, noun, verb.
  • Nearest alternatives: asteriated, be bright, beacon, beam.
  • Useful contrasts: absorb, conceal, concentrate.
  • Usage evidence: Any neutrinos traveling faster than light would radiate energy away, leaving a wake of slower particles analogous to the sonic boom of a supersonic fighter jet.

How to use "radiate"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "radiate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "radiate" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "radiate" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "radiate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "radiate" is acting as adj, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "asteriated" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "radiate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    One of the Radiata.
Verb
  1. 1
    To extend, send or spread out from a center like radii.

    "Crewe North Motive Power Depot is to be modernised completely. This includes the provision of a new coaling plant, ash handling plant, and two new locomotive sheds of the latest roundhouse type, each with 32 roads radiating from a 70-ft. dia. turntable."

  2. 2
    send out real or metaphoric rays; the children radiated joyous energy wordnet
  3. 3
    To emit rays or waves. transitive

    "The stove radiates heat."

  4. 4
    spread into new habitats and produce variety or variegate wordnet
  5. 5
    To come out or proceed in rays or waves. intransitive

    "The heat radiates from a stove."

Show 11 more definitions
  1. 6
    issue or emerge in rays or waves wordnet
  2. 7
    To illuminate. transitive
  3. 8
    experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion wordnet
  4. 9
    To expose to ionizing radiation, such as by radiography.
  5. 10
    cause to be seen by emitting light as if in rays wordnet
  6. 11
    To manifest oneself in a glowing manner. transitive

    "Slim, sensual Richard Hell radiates a commanding coolness."

  7. 12
    have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink wordnet
  8. 13
    To spread into new habitats, migrate. intransitive
  9. 14
    extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center wordnet
  10. 15
    To broadcast by radio. obsolete, transitive

    "Programmes marked thus will be radiated by Droitwich, but not by London and North National transmitters."

  11. 16
    send out rays or waves wordnet
Adjective
  1. 1
    Radiating from a center; having rays or parts diverging from a center; radiated.

    "a radiate crystal"

  2. 2
    Surrounded by rays, such as the head of a saint in a religious picture; (heraldry) radiant.

    "[…] and (2) the radiate or Eastern crown, usually five rays being shown. The see of Ely bears the apocryphal coat of St. Ethelreda: gules, three open crowns or. Azure, three open crowns or, are the arms of[…]"

  3. 3
    Having parts radiating from the center, like the petals in many flowers.
  4. 4
    Consisting of a disc in which the florets are tubular.
  5. 5
    Having radial symmetry, like a sea star.
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    Belonging to the Radiata.
Adjective
  1. 1
    having rays or ray-like parts as in the flower heads of daisies wordnet
  2. 2
    arranged like rays or radii; radiating from a common center wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
asteriatedbe brightbeaconbeambeambeamed

Example

"Any neutrinos traveling faster than light would radiate energy away, leaving a wake of slower particles analogous to the sonic boom of a supersonic fighter jet."

Common questions

What does "radiate" mean?

One of the Radiata.

What is a synonym for "radiate"?

Common synonyms include: asteriated, be bright, beacon, beam, beam, beamed.

How do you use "radiate" in a sentence?

Any neutrinos traveling faster than light would radiate energy away, leaving a wake of slower particles analogous to the sonic boom of a supersonic fighter jet.

How do you pronounce "radiate"?

Pronounced /ˈɹeɪdieɪt/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Latin radiātus, perfect passive participle of radiō (“to radiate, furnish with spokes, give out rays, radiate, shine”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from radius (“a spoke, ray”).

Etymology 2

Learned borrowing from Latin radiātus (see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).

Etymology 3

From a substantivation of the above adjective through the associated taxon's name (Radiata), see -ate (noun-forming suffix).

More for "radiate"

Synonyms

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