Category:Radiant

Ra"di*ant, a. Etym: [l. radians, -antis, p. pr. of radiare to emit Rays or beams, fr. radius ray: cf. F. radiant. See radius, ray a Divergent line.]

1. Emitting or proceeding as from a center; [u.s.] rays; radiating; Radiate.

2. Especially, emitting or darting rays of light or heat; issuing in Beams or rays; beaming with brightness; emitting a vivid light or Splendor; as, the radiant sun. Mark what radiant state she spreads. Milton.

3. Beaming with vivacity and happiness; as, a radiant face.

4. (her.)

Defn: giving off rays; -- said of a bearing; as, the sun radiant; a Crown radiant.

5. (bot.)

Defn: having a raylike appearance, as the large marginal flowers of Certain umbelliferous plants; -- said also of the cluster which has Such marginal flowers. Radiant energy (physics), energy given out or Transmitted by radiation, as in the case of light and radiant heat. -- radiant heat, proceeding in right lines, or directly from the Heated body, after the manner of light, in distinction from heat Conducted or carried by intervening media. -- radiant point. (astron.) See radiant, n., 3.

Radiant Ra"di*ant, n.

1. (opt.)

Defn: the luminous point or object from which light emanates; also, a Body radiating light brightly.

2. (geom.)

Defn: a straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, About which it is conceived to revolve.

3. (astron.)

Defn: the point in the heavens at which the apparent paths of Shooting stars meet, when traced backward, or whence they appear to Radiate.