trompe l'oeil

[French trawnp lœ-yuh; English trawmp ley, loi]

noun

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.

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. 2019

Related Words for trompe l'oeil

backdrop, location, scenery, set, setting, stage

British Dictionary definitions for trompe l'oeil

trompe l'oeil

noun plural trompe l'oeils (trɔ̃p lœj)

a painting or decoration giving a convincing illusion of reality

an effect of this kind

Word Origin for trompe l'oeil

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."