illustration
ih-luhs-TRAY-shuhn
Illustration (noun) means a picture or diagram used to decorate or explain a text. Example: “The children's book has a lovely illustration on every page.”
noun
1
A picture or diagram used to decorate or explain a text.
"The children's book has a lovely illustration on every page."
"A clear illustration of the engine helped me understand how it worked."
"The recipe book was full of colourful illustrations."
2
An example that helps make something clear.
"His calm reaction was a perfect illustration of how to handle stress."
"Let me give you an illustration of what I mean."
"The court case serves as a useful illustration of how the law is applied."
How to use illustration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a drawing that accompanies text, or an example that clarifies an idea.
Common pairings
book illustration
vivid illustration
as an illustration
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Word forms
- Plural
- illustrations
Fill the gap
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The children's book has a lovely _____ on every page.
Etymology
From Latin illustratio, from illustrare, "to make clear, light up."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for illustration
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for illustration →
Frequently asked questions
What does “illustration” mean?
The word “illustration” means a picture or diagram used to decorate or explain a text. In plain terms, either a drawing that accompanies text, or an example that clarifies an idea.
How do you pronounce “illustration”?
“Illustration” is pronounced ih-luhs-TRAY-shuhn (/ˌɪləsˈtɹeɪ̯ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “illustration” in a sentence?
Here is “illustration” used in a sentence: “The recipe book was full of colourful illustrations.”
What part of speech is “illustration”?
“Illustration” is a noun.
Where does the word “illustration” come from?
The word “illustration” comes from Latin. From Latin illustratio, from illustrare, "to make clear, light up.".
Is “illustration” a common word?
“Illustration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “illustration” have?
“Illustration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a picture or diagram used to decorate or explain a text.
What is the difference between an illustration and a diagram?
An illustration is a picture used to decorate or explain a text and can be artistic or realistic, while a diagram is a simplified drawing that shows how something works or how parts relate. A diagram can count as an illustration in the broad sense, but not every illustration is a diagram.
What is the difference between an illustration and an example?
In one sense an illustration is an example that helps make something clear, as in "by way of illustration," so the two overlap. As a picture, however, an illustration is a visual image, whereas an example can be any case that demonstrates a point, visual or not.
What is the difference between an illustration and a photograph?
An illustration is usually a drawn or designed image created by an artist to decorate or explain a text, while a photograph captures a real scene with a camera. Illustrations are typically hand-made or digitally created rather than photographed.
What preposition is used with illustration?
Illustration often takes "of," as in an illustration of the process, and appears in the phrase "by way of illustration," meaning as an example. "For illustration" is used to mean for the purpose of explaining.
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