illustration
Americannoun
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something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.
-
a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.
- Synonyms:
- explication
-
the act or process of illuminating.
-
the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.
-
Archaic. illustriousness; distinction.
noun
-
pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text
-
an example or demonstration
an illustration of his ability
-
the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated
Related Words
See case 1.
Other Word Forms
- illustrational adjective
- nonillustration noun
- overillustration noun
- preillustration noun
- reillustration noun
- superillustration noun
Etymology
Origin of illustration
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō ) “the act of making vivid, illustrating”; illustrate, -ion
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The order, accompanied by an AI-generated illustration of a World War II-era hospital ship flying the U.S. flag, was confusing to many, and justifiably so.
From Salon
Dr. Lee asked questions of the supposed spirits while the man cracked his ankles in response, providing, “a more striking illustration of ‘spiritual knockings’ than the Foxes ever dreamed of.”
From Literature
Wednesday offered the latest illustration of how investors are rewarding companies that demonstrate AI is expanding their existing franchises.
To assist Duane in explaining, he brought over the two books belonging to C.C. and turned to the pages that showed the illustrations and descriptions of both the great black-backed gull and the musk ox.
From Literature
She shows me her illustrations for The House Next Door, Or, Jumbo Meat Cleaver painting and another that is also on the studio wall.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
