radiate

UK: /ˈreɪdieɪt/

US: /ˈreɪdiˌeɪt/

US: (v. rā′dē āt′; adj. rā′dē it, -āt′)

Inflections of 'radiate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

radiates

v 3rd person singular

radiating

v pres p

radiated

v past

radiated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

ra•di•ate /ˈreɪdiˌeɪt/   v., -at•ed, -at•ing. 

1. Physics to go out, spread, or move like rays or lines from a center point outward:
   [no object] The main avenues in Paris radiate from the center.
2. Physics to give off rays, as of light or heat: [no object]
   Energy radiates from the sun.
   [~ + object]
   The sun radiates energy.
3. (of persons) to (cause to) give off or glow with cheerfulness, joy, goodwill, etc.: [no object]
   Confidence radiated from her.
   [~ + object]
   She radiated confidence.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

ra•di•ate  (v. rā′dē āt′;adj. rā′dē it, -āt′), v., -at•ed, -at•ing, adj. 
v.i. 

1. Physics to extend, spread, or move like rays or radii from a center.
2. Physics to emit rays, as of light or heat;
   irradiate.
3. Physics to issue or proceed in rays.
4. (of persons) to project or glow with cheerfulness, joy, etc.:
   She simply radiates with good humor.

v.t. 

5. Physics to emit in rays;
   disseminate, as from a center.
6. (of persons) to project (joy, goodwill, etc.).

adj. 

7. radiating from a center.
8. having rays extending from a central point or part:
   a coin showing a radiate head.
9. radiating symmetrically.

• Latin radiātus (past participle of radiāre to radiate light, shine). See radiant, -ate¹
• 1610–20

ra′di•a•ble, adj. 
ra′di•a•bil′i•ty, ra′di•a•ble•ness, n. 
ra′di•a•bly, ra′di•ate•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

radiate verb / ˈreɪdɪˌeɪt/

1. Also: eradiate to emit (heat, light, or some other form of radiation) or (of heat, light, etc) to be emitted as radiation
2. (intransitive) (of lines, beams, etc) to spread out from a centre or be arranged in a radial pattern
3. (transitive) (of a person) to show (happiness, health, etc) to a great degree

adjective / ˈreɪdɪɪt -ˌeɪt/

1. having rays; radiating
2. (of animals or their parts) showing radial symmetry

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin radiāre to emit rays