Emitting or reflecting light; radiant
A candle flame glows. The moon lights up the night sky. A firefly pulses in darkness. These are luminous—they emit or reflect light, creating a gentle radiance.
The word comes from Latin lumen (light). Something luminous doesn't just have light on it—it seems to radiate light, to glow from within.
How luminous describes both real light and brilliant ideas
Test your understanding of luminous in context
Which phrase uses 'luminous' correctly?