Nonradiate

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Describing an organism or structure that does not exhibit radial symmetry ; lacking the quality of radiating rays or lines from a central point ; referring to an entity that does not emit radiation or spread energy outward in all directions
2. Pertaining to animals or forms without symmetrical division around a central axis ; characterized by the absence of radiating pattern or structure ; indicating a state of not releasing or projecting radiation uniformly outward
3. Relating to bodies or shapes that do not have equal parts radiating from a center ; denoting the lack of any pattern resembling rays or spokes ; describing something that does not send out waves or particles in all directions

Etymology: "Nonradiate" is a plain formation: the prefix "non-", meaning "not", attached to "radiate," which comes from Latin "radiatus," the past participle of "radiare," "to emit rays," itself from "radius," a ray or spoke of a wheel. The result is an adjective for things that lack radiating structure or do not send out energy in every direction. The prefix is the older and more productive part of the story. "Non-" descends from Old English "nān," meaning "not one," which contracted in Middle English into "non" and was then reused as a freely attached negating element. English speakers have long applied it to ordinary adjectives like "nonradiate" as a convenient way to flip a meaning without finding a new word.

Synonyms: non-radiating, nonemitting, nonirradiating, nonluminous

Antonyms: radiate, emit, shine, glow, irradiate