The difference between Luminous and Radiant

When used as adjectives, luminous means emitting light, whereas radiant means radiating light and/or heat.


Radiant is also noun with the meaning: a point source from which radiation is emitted.

check bellow for the other definitions of Luminous and Radiant

  1. Luminous as an adjective:

    emitting light; glowing brightly

  2. Luminous as an adjective:

    brightly illuminated

  1. Radiant as an adjective:

    Radiating light and/or heat.

    Examples:

    "the radiant sun"

  2. Radiant as an adjective:

    Emitted as radiation.

  3. Radiant as an adjective:

    Beaming with vivacity and happiness.

    Examples:

    "a radiant face"

  4. Radiant as an adjective:

    Emitting or proceeding as if from a center.

  5. Radiant as an adjective (heraldry):

    Giving off rays; said of a bearing.

    Examples:

    "the sun radiant;  a crown radiant'"

  6. Radiant as an adjective (botany):

    Having a ray-like appearance, like the large marginal flowers of certain umbelliferous plants; said also of the cluster which has such marginal flowers.

  1. Radiant as a noun:

    A point source from which radiation is emitted.

  2. Radiant as a noun (astronomy):

    The apparent origin, in the night sky, of a meteor shower.

  3. Radiant as a noun (geometry):

    A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is conceived to revolve.

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