irradiate

[ verb ih-rey-dee-eyt; adjective ih-rey-dee-it, -eyt ]
/ verb ɪˈreɪ diˌeɪt; adjective ɪˈreɪ di ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

verb (used with object), ir·ra·di·at·ed, ir·ra·di·at·ing.

verb (used without object), ir·ra·di·at·ed, ir·ra·di·at·ing.

Archaic.
  1. to emit rays; shine.
  2. to become radiant.

adjective

irradiated; bright.

Origin of irradiate

1595–1605; < Latin irradiātus, past participle of irradiāre to shine upon. See ir-1, radiate

OTHER WORDS FROM irradiate

Words nearby irradiate

irotomy, irq, irra, irradiance, irradiant, irradiate, irradiation, irradicable, irrational, irrational number, irrationalism

British Dictionary definitions for irradiator

irradiate
/ (ɪˈreɪdɪˌeɪt) /

verb

(tr) physics to subject to or treat with light or other electromagnetic radiation or with beams of particles
(tr) to expose (food) to electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and retard deterioration
(tr) to make clear or bright intellectually or spiritually; illumine
a less common word for radiate (def. 1)
(intr) obsolete to become radiant

Derived forms of irradiate

irradiative, adjective irradiator, noun

Medical definitions for irradiator

irradiate
[ ĭ-rā′dē-āt′ ]

v.

To expose to radiation, as for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.
To treat with radiation.
To apply radiation to a structure or organism.

Scientific definitions for irradiator

irradiate
[ ĭ-rā′dē-āt′ ]

To expose to or treat with radiation. For example, meat sold as food is often irradiated with x-rays or other radiation to kill bacteria; uranium 238 can be irradiated with neutrons to create fissionable plutonium 239.