Looking up...
luminous
/ˈluːmɪnəs/
leuchtend
The luminous dial of the clock glowed softly in the dark.
Das leuchtende Ziffernblatt der Uhr glomm sanft in der Dunkelheit.
neutral
leuchtend, strahlend
She wore a luminous green dress that caught everyone's attention.
Sie trug ein leuchtend grünes Kleid, das alle Blicke auf sich zog.
The luminous paint made the exit signs visible even in smoke.
Die leuchtende Farbe machte die Notausgangsschilder selbst im Rauch sichtbar.
Often used for objects that emit light or reflect it strongly, including metaphorical contexts like 'luminous ideas'.
literarisch
strahlend, glänzend (Gesicht, Augen)
His luminous eyes betrayed his excitement.
Seine strahlenden Augen verrieten seine Aufregung.
Describes facial features or eyes that shine with emotion or health.
Kollokationen
Profi-Tipp
German equivalent for 'luminous' in technical contexts
In physics or engineering, use 'leuchtend' for light-emitting objects, but 'Licht-' or 'Leucht-' as a prefix (e.g., 'Lichtintensität' for luminous intensity).
Goldene Regel
Avoid literal translations for figurative uses
For phrases like 'luminous prose,' use 'strahlende Prosa' (figurative) rather than 'leuchtende Prosa' (literal).
Wortursprung
From Latin *luminosus* ('full of light'), derived from *lumen* ('light'). Entered English in the 15th century.
Verwendungshinweise
Common in both literal (physical light) and figurative (intellectual brilliance) contexts. Avoid confusing with 'luminous' as a technical term in physics (e.g., luminous flux) unless in specialized texts.
Wortzerlegung
lumin-
light
root-ous
full of
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