illustration

[ il-uh-strey-shuhn ]

/ ˌɪl əˈstreɪ ʃən /

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noun

something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.

a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

the act or process of illuminating.

the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.

Archaic. illustriousness; distinction.

Nearby words

Origin of illustration

1325–75; Middle English < Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō) the act of making vivid, illustrating. See illustrate, -ion

SYNONYMS FOR illustration

2, 4. explication.

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Related forms

non·il·lus·tra·tion, nouno·ver·il·lus·tra·tion, nounpre·il·lus·tra·tion, nounre·il·lus·tra·tion, noun

su·per·il·lus·tra·tion, noun

Synonym study

2. See case¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for illustration

It also offers an illustration about vaccine safety in general.
The $1 Billion Reason to Vaccinate|Russell Saunders|June 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, its fantastic rooms house the first national museum focused solely on the art of American illustration.
Newport’s Secret Norman Rockwells|William O’Connor|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His illustration Daybreak was once the most reproduced work of art in the world.
Newport’s Secret Norman Rockwells|William O’Connor|June 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Insist that it's as clear an illustration of rape as you're going to see on cable TV—because it is.
Why We Should Pretend the ‘Game of Thrones’ Rape Scene Never Happened|Andrew Romano|May 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The picture was never actually published, but an illustration based on the picture was.
Brooks Cleared of Prince William Photo Charge|Tom Sykes|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A boy's life in a secluded New England town in winter does not afford many points for illustration.
The Story of a Bad Boy|Thomas Bailey Aldrich
One of the finest of these, and an admirably perfect suit, is shown in our illustration (Fig. 28).
Armour in England|J. Starkie Gardner
The illustration is ludicrously inadequate, as every illustration must be, simply because the human case is unique.
Parenthood and Race Culture|Caleb Williams Saleeby
It looks upon the hero as an illustration in the story of the war, which it reads like history.
The Complete Essays of C. D. Warner|Charles Dudley Warner
Our meaning will perhaps be made clear by an illustration from the healing art.
The philosophy of life, and philosophy of language, in a course of lectures|Frederick von Schlegel

British Dictionary definitions for illustration

illustration

/ (ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən) /

noun

pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text

an example or demonstrationan illustration of his ability

the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated

Derived Formsillustrational, 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

Word Origin and History for illustration

illustration

c.1400, "a shining;" early 15c., "a manifestation;" mid-15c., "a spiritual illumination," from Old French illustration "apparition, appearance," and directly from Latin illustrationem (nominative illustratio) "vivid representation" (in writing), literally "an enlightening," from past participle stem of illustrare "light up, make light, illuminate;" figuratively "make clear, disclose, explain; adorn, render distinguished," from assimilated form of in- "in" (see in- (2)) + lustrare "make bright, illuminate," related to lucere "shine," lux "light" (see light (n.)). Mental sense of "act of making clear in the mind" is from 1580s. Meaning "an illustrative picture" is from 1816.

illustration

noun

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of illustration

Synonym study

Examples from the Web for illustration

illustration

noun

illustration