Irradiate Meaning in English
word
Definition
To shine light or other energy, especially radiation, onto something. It can also mean to treat food or materials with radiation for a specific purpose, like sterilization.
Usage & Nuances
Formal/technical, used mostly in science, medicine, and engineering. Common in contexts like food safety ('irradiate food'), sterilization, or describing how energy spreads. Not used for ordinary light or everyday shining—'shine' or 'illuminate' is used instead.
Example Sentences
Doctors sometimes irradiate cancer cells to destroy them.
basic
We can irradiate food to keep it safe for longer.
basic
Ultraviolet lamps irradiate the area to disinfect it.
basic
They decided to irradiate the package before shipping it across the country.
natural
To stop bacteria from spreading, hospitals often irradiate their equipment.
natural
Scientists irradiated the samples to check for changes under radiation.
natural