Irradiate \Ir*ra"di*ate\ ([i^]r*r[=a]"d[i^]*[=a]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Irradiated} ([i^]r*r[=a]"d[i^]*[=a]`t[e^]d); p. pr. & vb. n. {Irradiating} ([i^]r*r[=a]"d[i^]*[=a]`t[i^]ng).] [L. irradiatus, p. p. of irradiate. See {In-} in, and {Radiate}.] 1. To throw rays of light upon; to illuminate; to brighten; to adorn with luster.
Thy smile irradiates yon blue fields. --Sir W. Jones.
2. To enlighten intellectually; to illuminate; as, to irradiate the mind. --Bp. Bull.
3. To animate by heat or light. --Sir M. Hale.
4. To radiate, shed, or diffuse.
A splendid fa[,c]ade, . . . irradiating hospitality. --H. James.
5. To expose to radiation of any kind, especially {ionizing radiation}; as, to sterilize food by irradiating it with gamma rays; one can cause mutations in bacteria by irradiating them with ultraviolet light. [PJC]
irradiate \ir*ra"di*ate\, v. i. To emit rays; to shine.
irradiate \ir*ra"di*ate\ ([i^]r*r[=a]"d[i^]*[asl]t), a. [L. irradiatus, p. p.] Illuminated; irradiated. --Mason.
At least 20 nations already irradiate produce and spices. The World Health Organization encourages the procedure, which can help combat such harmful micro-organisms as salmonella in poultry, cholera in fish and trichinosis in pork.