trompe l'oeil
Americannoun
-
visual deception, especially in paintings, in which objects are rendered in extremely fine detail emphasizing the illusion of tactile and spatial qualities.
-
a painting, mural, or panel of wallpaper designed to create such an effect.
noun
-
a painting or decoration giving a convincing illusion of reality
-
an effect of this kind
Etymology
Origin of trompe l'oeil
1895–1900; < French: literally, (it) fools the eye
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In the trompe l'oeil challenge, you had titled it "What's for Dinner," I think?
From Salon
Buddha: I really enjoyed the Wellington challenge, but I think I can't stop wrapping my head around the trompe l'oeil dish and I really loved it.
From Salon
Ali's attempt to create a garden isn't so much trompe l'oeil as much as it is creating a foodscape.
From Salon
Placing her as Dre's best friend operates as something of a trompe l'oeil given Dre's reason for living is to picture herself in the inner circle of musical royalty.
From Salon
Self-conscious humor was also central to trompe l'oeil.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
