v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Irradiated p. pr. & vb. n. Irradiating ] [ L. irradiatus, p. p. of irradiate. See In- in, and Radiate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To throw rays of light upon; to illuminate; to brighten; to adorn with luster. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thy smile irradiates yon blue fields. Sir W. Jones. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To enlighten intellectually; to illuminate; as, to irradiate the mind. Bp. Bull. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To animate by heat or light. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To radiate, shed, or diffuse. [ 1913 Webster ]

A splendid façade, . . . irradiating hospitality. H. James. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To expose to radiation of any kind, especially ionizing radiation; as, to sterilize food by irradiating it with gamma rays; one can cause mutations in bacteria by irradiating them with ultraviolet light. [ PJC ]

v. i. To emit rays; to shine. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. irradiatus, p. p. ] Illuminated; irradiated. Mason. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. irradiation. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated; as, irradiation of foods with X-rays can preserve their freshness by killing the bacteria that cause spoilage . [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

2. Illumination; irradiance; brilliancy. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Fig.: Mental light or illumination. Sir M. Hale. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Opt.) The apparent enlargement of a bright object seen upon a dark ground, due to the fact that the portions of the retina around the image are stimulated by the intense light; as when a dark spot on a white ground appears smaller, or a white spot on a dark ground larger, than it really is, esp. when a little out of focus. [ 1913 Webster ]