foreshorten

[ fawr-shawr-tn, fohr- ]

verb (used with object)
  1. Fine Arts. to reduce or distort (parts of a represented object that are not parallel to the picture plane) in order to convey the illusion of three-dimensional space as perceived by the human eye: often done according to the rules of perspective.

  2. to abridge, reduce, or contract; make shorter.

Origin of foreshorten

1
First recorded in 1600–10; fore- + shorten

Other words from foreshorten

  • un·fore·short·ened, adjective

Words Nearby foreshorten

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How to use foreshorten in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for foreshorten

foreshorten

/ (fɔːˈʃɔːtən) /


verb(tr)
  1. to represent (a line, form, object, etc) as shorter than actual length in order to give an illusion of recession or projection, in accordance with the laws of linear perspective

  2. to make shorter or more condensed; reduce or abridge

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