Lū'mi-noüs, a.

a. [Lat. luminosus, from lumen, light; Fr. lumineux, Pr. luminos, Sp., Pg., & It. luminoso.]

1. Shining; emitting light; as, the sun is a most luminous body.
2. Bright; shining; as, a luminous color.
3. Clear, as if illuminated. “Calculated to place his disinterested pursuit of truth in a luminous aspect.” De Quincey.

Syn.—Lucid; bright; clear; resplendent; shining; perspicuous.—LUMINOUS, LUCID. A thing is lucid when pervaded by light; as, a lucid stream; it is luminous when it sends forth light to surrounding objects; as, a luminous body. Hence, we speak of an argument as lucid when it is remarkably clear, and as luminous when it pours upon a subject the mingled light of reasoning and illustration.