trompe l'oeil
[French trawnp lœ-yuh; English trawmp ley, loi]
- visual deception, especially in paintings, in which objects are rendered in extremely fine detail emphasizing the illusion of tactile and spatial qualities.
- a painting, mural, or panel of wallpaper designed to create such an effect.
Show More
Origin of trompe l'oeil
1895–1900; < French: literally, (it) fools the eye
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
trompe l'oeil
- a painting or decoration giving a convincing illusion of reality
- an effect of this kind
Show More
Word Origin
from French, literally: deception of the eye
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 trompe l'oeil
1889, French, literally "deceives the eye."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper