The professor used a simple diagram to illuminate the complex process of photosynthesis for her students.
教授用一张简单的图表向学生阐明了光合作用的复杂过程。
Which choice best defines “illuminate”?
D — Light up, clarify. “illuminate” means light up, clarify.
Which word means “light up, clarify”?
D — illuminate. “illuminate” means light up, clarify.
illuminate — light up, clarify. In Chinese: 照亮，阐明.
illuminate is pronounced /ɪˈluːmɪneɪt/.
The professor used a simple diagram to illuminate the complex process of photosynthesis for her students. (教授用一张简单的图表向学生阐明了光合作用的复杂过程。)
light, clarify, brighten — all close in meaning to illuminate (light up, clarify).
darken, obscure — each the opposite of illuminate (light up, clarify).
Yes. illuminate is on the SAT Prep Easy list — mid-frequency academic words that do get tested. The Digital SAT does not test vocabulary in isolation; words like this one are tested through Words in Context questions, where you choose the word that completes a passage most logically and precisely.
il(make)+lumin(light)+ate