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Added 9 October 2026

irradiate

/ɪˈɹeɪdɪət/ verb

Latin root: irradiātus Wiktionary

verb Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about irradiate at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Give spiritual insight to; in religion.
Cast rays of light upon.
Expose to radiation.
irradiate food

Origin

From Middle English irradiate (“illuminated, shining”), borrowed from Medieval Latin irradiātus, perfect passive participle of irradiō, from ir- (“against; into; on, upon”) + radiō (“to cause to radiate, irradiate; to emit beams, radiate”), from radius (“ray of light; rod, staff; spoke of a wheel”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix) (further etymology uncertain; possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁t- (“beam; pole; post”)). The adjective is attested earlier than the verb. The English word is analysable as in- (“against; into; on, upon”) + radiate.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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