decorate vs illuminate

illuminate vs decorate

decorate and illuminate both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
decorate	No	No	Yes	No
illuminate	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, illuminate is a hyponym of decorate; that is, illuminate is a word with a more specific, narrower meaning than decorate:

decorate: make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.
illuminate: add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts)

Other hyponyms of decorate include wreathe, beset, encrust, incrust, braid, broider, embroider, stick, illustrate, garland, fledge, flight, bespangle, spangle, foliate, flag, bard, barde, caparison, dress up, bead, pipe, applique, gild the lily, paint the lily, vermiculate, smock, hang, prank, tinsel, tart up, stucco, redecorate, panel, bejewel, jewel, filet, fillet, scallop, bedizen, dress ship, dress, garnish, trim, trim, bedeck, bedight, deck, festoon, enamel, inlay, lacquer, begild, engild, gild, blazon, emblazon, color, colour, emblazon, fringe, fret, landscape.

decorate (verb)	illuminate (verb)
provide with decoration	introduce light into
make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.	make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
award a mark of honor, such as a medal, to	add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts)
be beautiful to look at

Difference between decorate and illuminate

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