illusion

[ ih-loo-zhuhn ]
See synonyms for: illusionillusions on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

  2. the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.

  1. an instance of being deceived.

  2. Psychology. a perception, as of visual stimuli (optical illusion ), that represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality.

  3. a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.

  4. Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.

Origin of illusion

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English from Latin illūsiōn- (stem of illūsiō ) “irony, mocking,” equivalent to illūs(us), past participle of illūdere “to mock, ridicule” (il- il-1 + lūd- play (see ludicrous) + -tus past participle suffix) + -iōn- -ion

synonym study For illusion

1. illusion, hallucination, delusion refer to false perceptions or ideas. An illusion is a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually exist: A mirage is an illusion produced by reflection of light against the sky. A hallucination is a perception of a thing or quality that has no physical counterpart: Under the influence of LSD, Terry had hallucinations that the living-room floor was rippling. A delusion is a persistent false belief: A paranoiac has delusions of persecution.

Other words for illusion

Other words from illusion

  • il·lu·sioned, adjective

Words that may be confused with illusion

Words Nearby illusion

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

How to use illusion in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for illusion

illusion

/ (ɪˈluːʒən) /


noun
  1. a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality: the mirror gives an illusion of depth

  2. a false or misleading perception or belief; delusion: he has the illusion that he is really clever

  1. psychol a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiver: See also hallucination

  2. a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc

Origin of illusion

1
C14: from Latin illūsiō deceit, from illūdere; see illude

Derived forms of illusion

  • illusionary or illusional, adjective
  • illusioned, adjective

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