From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Radiant \Ra"di*ant\ (r[=a]"d[i^]*ant), a. [L. radians, -antis,
p. pr. of radiare to emit rays or beams, fr. radius ray: cf.
F. radiant. See {Radius}, {Ray} a divergent line.]
1. Emitting or proceeding as from a center; resembling rays;
radiating; radiate.
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2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat;
issuing in beams or rays; beaming with brightness;
emitting a vivid light or splendor; as, the radiant sun.
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Mark what radiant state she spreads. --Milton.
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3. Beaming with vivacity and happiness; as, a radiant face.
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4. (Her.) Giving off rays; -- said of a bearing; as, the sun
radiant; a crown radiant.
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5. (Bot.) Having a raylike appearance, as the large marginal
flowers of certain umbelliferous plants; -- said also of
the cluster which has such marginal flowers.
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6. (Physics) Emitted or transmitted by radiation; as, a
radiant energy; radiant heat.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
{Radiant energy} (Physics), energy given out or transmitted
by radiation, as in the case of light and radiant heat.
{Radiant heat}, heat proceeding in right lines, or directly
from the heated body, after the manner of light, in
distinction from heat conducted or carried by intervening
media.
{Radiant point}. (Astron.) See {Radiant}, n., 3.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
radiant energy
n 1: energy that is transmitted in the form of (electromagnetic)
radiation; energy that exists in the absence of matter
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