Lu"mi*nous (?), a. [L.
luminosus, fr. lumen light: cf. F. lumineux. See
Luminary, Illuminate.]
1. Shining; emitting or reflecting light;
brilliant; bright; as, the is a luminous body; a
luminous color.
Fire burneth wood, making it . . .
luminous.
Bacon.
The mountains lift . . . their lofty and
luminous heads.
Longfellow.
2. Illuminated; full of light; bright; as,
many candles made the room luminous.
Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the
darkness.
Longfellow.
3. Enlightened; intelligent; also, clear;
intelligible; as, a luminous mind. " Luminous
eloquence." Macaulay. " A luminous statement."
Brougham.
Luminous paint, a paint made up with some
phosphorescent substance, as sulphide of calcium, which after
exposure to a strong light is luminous in the dark for a
time.
Syn. -- Lucid; clear; shining; perspicuous.
-- Lu"mi*nous*ly, adv. --
Lu"mi*nous*ness, n.
