irradiate
Bathe in rays
Irradiate means to expose something to radiation, whether for medical treatment, food preservation, or scientific purposes.
Doctors irradiate tumors to destroy cancer cells; food manufacturers irradiate produce to kill bacteria and extend shelf life.
The word also carries a more literary sense of illuminating or brightening with light: Her face was irradiated by joy.
This figurative use connects to the root sense of casting rays upon something.
Emitting nuclear decay particles
- ionizingProducing charged particles
- nuclearOf atomic energy
- uraniumElement ninety-two
- radonRadioactive inert gas
isotope · dosimetry · exposure · half-life · gray · radionuclide · neutron · cobalt-60
Steady, soft light
- shineEmit or reflect light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
- fluorescenceLight emitted after absorption
beam · incandescence · brighten · light-up · emanate · suffuse · bathe · flood
Structural support member
- transmitTo send onward
- broadcastTransmitted media signal
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- propagateSpread or breed further
emanate · project · diffuse · spread · scatter · rays · waves · photons
Introduction of impurities
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- carcinogenicCauses cancer
mutagenic · fallout · meltdown · Chernobyl · Fukushima · decay · waste · shielding
Medical radiation for cancer
- brachytherapyLocalized implanted radiation oncology
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
dosimetry · targeted · malignant · remission · treatment · radiologist · fractionation · radiosurgery
Complete elimination of microbes
- pasteurizeHeat-treat for safety
- disinfectKill pathogens on surfaces
- food-safetyProtecting consumables from contamination
- preserveProtect from loss
decontaminate · germicidal · pathogen-free · shelf-life · sanitize · aseptic · autoclave · medical-equipment
radioactive
Emitting nuclear decay particles
radon · isotope · dosimetry · exposure · half-life · gray · radionuclide · neutron · cobalt-60 · cesium-137
glow
Steady, soft light
- shineEmit or reflect light
- luminescenceHeatless light emission
- phosphorescenceHeatless delayed light emission
fluorescence · beam · incandescence · brighten · light-up · emanate · suffuse · bathe · flood · effulgence
beam
Structural support member
propagate · emanate · project · diffuse · spread · scatter · rays · waves · photons · energy
contamination
Introduction of impurities
carcinogenic · mutagenic · fallout · meltdown · Chernobyl · Fukushima · decay · waste · shielding · decontaminate
radiotherapy
Medical radiation for cancer
- brachytherapyLocalized implanted radiation oncology
- oncologyCancer medicine specialty
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
cancer · dosimetry · targeted · malignant · remission · treatment · radiologist · fractionation · radiosurgery · palliative
sterilization
Complete elimination of microbes
- pasteurizeHeat-treat for safety
- disinfectKill pathogens on surfaces
- food-safetyProtecting consumables from contamination
preserve · decontaminate · germicidal · pathogen-free · shelf-life · sanitize · aseptic · autoclave · medical-equipment · spices
irradiation, irradiance, irradiated, irradiates, irradiant, irradiating