illustrate

[ il-uh-streyt, ih-luhs-treyt ]
See synonyms for: illustrateillustratedillustratesillustratable on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.
  1. to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or adornment.

  2. to make clear or intelligible, as by examples or analogies; exemplify.

  1. Archaic. to enlighten.

verb (used without object),il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.
  1. to clarify one's words, writings, etc., with examples: To prevent misunderstandings, let me illustrate.

Origin of illustrate

1
First recorded in 1520–30; from Latin illustrātus, past participle of illustrāre “to illuminate, make clear, give glory to”; see il-1, luster1, -ate1

Other words from illustrate

  • il·lus·trat·a·ble, adjective
  • o·ver·il·lus·trate, verb (used with object), o·ver·il·lus·trat·ed, o·ver·il·lus·trat·ing.
  • pre·il·lus·trate, verb (used with object), pre·il·lus·trat·ed, pre·il·lus·trat·ing.
  • re·il·lus·trate, verb (used with object), re·il·lus·trat·ed, re·il·lus·trat·ing.
  • su·per·il·lus·trate, verb (used with object), su·per·il·lus·trat·ed, su·per·il·lus·trat·ing.

Words Nearby illustrate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use illustrate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for illustrate

illustrate

/ (ˈɪləˌstreɪt) /


verb
  1. to clarify or explain by use of examples, analogy, etc

  2. (tr) to be an example or demonstration of

  1. (tr) to explain or decorate (a book, text, etc) with pictures

  2. (tr) an archaic word for enlighten

Origin of illustrate

1
C16: from Latin illustrāre to make light, explain, from lustrāre to purify, brighten; see lustrum

Derived forms of illustrate

  • illustratable, adjective
  • illustrative, adjective
  • illustratively, adverb
  • illustrator, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012