optical illusion
- See under illusion(def 4).
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Origin of optical illusion
First recorded in 1785–95
illusion
[ih-loo-zhuhn]
- something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.
- the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.
- an instance of being deceived.
- 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.
- a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.
- Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.
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Origin of illusion
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.com1. aberration, fantasy, chimera. 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.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for optical illusion
Historical Examples
The trouble about the optical-illusion view is, that it makes the day too long.
The Works of Robert G. Ingersoll, Vol. 5 (of 12)Robert G. Ingersoll
In this illustration it is seen that the optical-illusion idea has taken definite form.
Visual IllusionsMatthew Luckiesh
optical illusion
- an object causing a false visual impression
- an instance of deception by such an object
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illusion
- a false appearance or deceptive impression of realitythe mirror gives an illusion of depth
- a false or misleading perception or belief; delusionhe has the illusion that he is really clever
- psychol a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiverSee also hallucination
- a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc
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Word Origin
C14: from Latin illūsiō deceit, from illūdere; see illude
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for optical illusion
illusion
n.
mid-14c., "act of deception," from Old French illusion "a mocking, deceit, deception" (12c.), from Latin illusionem (nominative illusio) "a mocking, jesting, irony," from illudere "mock at," literally "to play with," from assimilated form of in- "at, upon" (see in- (2)) + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). Sense of "deceptive appearance" developed in Church Latin and was attested in English by late 14c. Related: Illusioned "full of illusions" (1920).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
illusion
(ĭ-lōō′zhən)- An erroneous perception of reality.
- An erroneous concept or belief.
- The condition of being deceived by a false perception or belief.
- Something, such as a fantastic plan or desire, that causes an erroneous belief or perception.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.