Etymology
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radiate (v.)

1610s, "issue or spread in all directions from a point in rays or straight lines," from Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare "to beam, shine, gleam; make beaming," from radius "beam of light; spoke of a wheel" (see radius). Meaning "be radiant, give off rays (of light or heat)" is from 1640s. Related: Radiated; radiates; radiating.

radiate (adj.)

"having rays, furnished with rays or ray-like parts, shining," 1660s, from Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare "to beam, shine, gleam; make beaming," from radius "beam of light; spoke of a wheel" (see radius).

Entries linking to radiate

radius (n.)

1590s, "cross-shaft, straight rod or bar," from Latin radius "staff, stake, rod; spoke of a wheel; ray of light, beam of light; radius of a circle," a word of unknown origin. Perhaps related to radix "root," but de Vaan finds that "unlikely." The classical plural is radii. 

The geometric sense of "straight line drawn from the center of a circle to the circumference" is recorded from 1650s. Meaning "circular area of defined distance around some place" is attested from 1853. As the name of the shorter of the two bones of the forearm from 1610s in English (the Latin word had been used thus by the Romans).

irradiate (v.)
c. 1600, "to cast beams of light upon," from Latin irradiatus, past participle of irradiare "shine forth, beam upon, illumine," from assimilated form of in- "into, in" (from PIE root *en "in") + radiare "to shine" (see radiate (v.)). Meaning "expose to radiation other than light" (originally X-rays) is from 1901. Related: Irradiated; irradiating.

updated on March 29, 2021

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Definitions of radiate from WordNet
1
radiate (v.)
send out rays or waves;
The sun radiates heat
radiate (v.)
send out real or metaphoric rays;
She radiates happiness
radiate (v.)
extend or spread outward from a center or focus or inward towards a center;
This plants radiate spines in all directions
spokes radiate from the hub of the wheel
Synonyms: ray
radiate (v.)
have a complexion with a strong bright color, such as red or pink;
Synonyms: glow / beam / shine
radiate (v.)
cause to be seen by emitting light as if in rays;
radiate (v.)
experience a feeling of well-being or happiness, as from good health or an intense emotion;
Her face radiated with happiness
Synonyms: glow / beam / shine
radiate (v.)
issue or emerge in rays or waves;
Heat radiated from the metal box
radiate (v.)
spread into new habitats and produce variety or variegate;
Synonyms: diversify
2
radiate (adj.)
arranged like rays or radii; radiating from a common center;
Synonyms: radial / stellate
radiate (adj.)
having rays or ray-like parts as in the flower heads of daisies;
From wordnet.princeton.edu, not affiliated with etymonline.

Dictionary entries near radiate

raddle

radial

radian

radiance

radiant

radiate

radiation

radiative

radiator

radical

radicalism

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