illustrate
[ il-uh-streyt, ih-luhs-treyt ]
/ ˈɪl əˌstreɪt, ɪˈlʌs treɪt /
verb (used with object), il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.
to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or adornment.
to make clear or intelligible, as by examples or analogies; exemplify.
Archaic. to enlighten.
verb (used without object), il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing.
to clarify one's words, writings, etc., with examples: To prevent misunderstandings, let me illustrate.
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Nearby words
illusionist, illusive, illusively, illusory, illust., illustrate, illustrated, illustration, illustrational, illustrative, illustrator
Origin of illustrate
Related forms
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for illustrate
British Dictionary definitions for illustrate
illustrate
/ (ˈɪləˌstreɪt) /
verb
to clarify or explain by use of examples, analogy, etc
(tr) to be an example or demonstration of
(tr) to explain or decorate (a book, text, etc) with pictures
(tr) an archaic word for enlighten
Derived Forms
illustratable, adjectiveillustrative, adjectiveillustratively, adverbillustrator, nounWord Origin for illustrate
C16: from Latin illustrāre to make light, explain, from lustrāre to purify, brighten; see lustrum
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