Meaning of illuminate in English
illuminate
verb [ T ] formal
UKvolume_up
/ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt/
USvolume_up
/ɪˈluː.mə.neɪt/

to light something and make it brighter:

The streets were illuminated with strings of coloured lights.

to explain and show more clearly something that is difficult to understand:

an article which illuminates the issues at stake

illuminate
verb [ T ]
USvolume_up
/ɪˈlu·məˌneɪt/

to put light in or on something:

The buildings were illuminated at night.

If you illuminate a subject, you explain it:

This article illuminates the basic principles of economics.