silhouette

American  

[sil-oo-et] / ˌsɪl uˈɛt /

noun

1. a two-dimensional representation of the outline of an object, as a cutout or configurational drawing, uniformly filled in with black, especially a black-paper, miniature cutout of the outlines of a person's face in profile.

2. the outline or general shape of something.

   the slim silhouette of a skyscraper.

3. a dark image outlined against a lighter background.

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verb (used with object)

silhouetted, silhouetting

1. to show in or as if in a silhouette.

2. Printing. to remove the background details from (a halftone cut) so as to produce an outline effect.

silhouette British  

/ ˌsɪluːˈɛt /

noun

1. the outline of a solid figure as cast by its shadow

2. an outline drawing filled in with black, often a profile portrait cut out of black paper and mounted on a light ground

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verb

1. (tr) to cause to appear in silhouette

Other Word Forms

• unsilhouetted adjective

Etymology

Origin of silhouette

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French à la silhouette, after Etienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French finance minister; the surname Silhouette is ultimately from Basque Zilhoeta, from zilo, zilho, zulo “hole” + -eta, toponymic suffix

Related Words

• contour
• likeness
• portrait
• shade
• shadow
• shape