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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

Tiny ocean creatures make the water luminous at night—each wave lights up bright blue when they move.
Your phone screen stays luminous because millions of tiny colored lights shine through the glass.

Exit signs remain luminous during blackouts—they absorb light during the day and glow in the dark.

Book critics called her writing luminous—the descriptions were so vivid they seemed to shine with clarity.
Test your understanding of luminous in context
Which creature would be described as luminous?