Illustrate definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

illustrate in American English · 1. to furnish (a book, magazine, etc.) with drawings, pictures, or other artwork intended for explanation, elucidation, or ... EnglishDictionary Thesaurus WordLists Grammar EnglishEasyLearningGrammar GrammarPatterns EnglishUsage TeachingResources VideoGuides Conjugations Sentences Video LearnEnglish Videopronunciations Buildyourvocabulary Quiz Englishgrammar Englishcollocations Englishconfusables Englishidioms Englishusage Thematicwordlists English French German Italian Spanish Portuguese Hindi Chinese Korean Japanese Definitionof 'illustrate'    WordFrequency Share× Credits× illustrate (ɪləstreɪt ) Wordforms:3rdpersonsingularpresent tenseillustrates ,presentparticipleillustrating ,pasttense,pastparticipleillustrated 1. verb Ifyousaythatsomethingillustratesasituationthatyouaredrawingattentionto,youmeanthatitshowsthatthesituationexists. TheexampleoftheUnitedStatesillustratesthispoint.[VERBnoun] ThischangeisneatlyillustratedbywhathashappenedtotheArabLeague.[VERBnoun] Theincidentgraphicallyillustrateshowparloustheirpositionis.[VERBwh] Thecasealsoillustratesthatsomewomenarenowtryingtofightback.[VERBthat] Synonyms:demonstrate,show,exhibit,emphasize MoreSynonymsofillustrate 2. verb Ifyouuseanexample,story,ordiagramtoillustrateapoint,youuseittoshowthatwhatyouaresayingistrueortomakeyourmeaningclearer. Letmegiveanotherexampletoillustratethisdifficultpoint.[VERBnoun] Throughout,sheillustratesheranalysiswithexcerptsfromdiscussions.[VERBnoun+with] Synonyms:explain,describe,interpret,sumup MoreSynonymsofillustrate illustration(ɪləstreɪʃən )uncountablenounHere,bywayofillustration,aresomeextractsfromournewcatalogue. Synonyms:example,case,instance,sample MoreSynonymsofillustrate 3. verb Ifyouillustrateabook,youputpictures,photographs,ordiagramsintoit. Shewentontoartschoolandisnowillustratingabook.[VERBnoun] Hehasillustratedthebookwithblack-and-whitephotographs.[VERBnoun+with] Synonyms:adorn,ornament,embellish MoreSynonymsofillustrate illustrated adjectiveThebookisbeautifullyillustratedthroughout. Synonyms:pictured,decorated,illuminated,embellished MoreSynonymsofillustrate illustration uncountablenoun...theworldofchildren'sbookillustration. Synonyms:example,case,instance,sample MoreSynonymsofillustrate COBUILDAdvancedEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Video:pronunciationof illustrate Youmayalsolike EnglishQuizConfusables Synonymsof'illustrate' LanguageLover'sBlog FrenchTranslationof'illustrate' Translateyourtext PronunciationPlaylists Wordoftheday:'Beatles' HindiTranslationof'illustrate' NEWfromCollins! EnglishGrammar CollinsApps WordFrequency illustrateinBritishEnglish (ˈɪləˌstreɪt ) verb1. toclarifyorexplainbyuseofexamples,analogy,etc 2. (transitive) tobeanexampleordemonstrationof 3. (transitive) toexplainordecorate(abook,text,etc)withpictures 4. (transitive)anarchaicwordforenlighten CollinsEnglishDictionary.Copyright©HarperCollinsPublishers Derivedformsillustratable(ˈillusˌtratable)adjective illustrative(ˈillusˌtrative)orillustratory(ˈillusˌtratory)adjective illustratively(ˈillusˌtratively)adverb illustrator(ˈillusˌtrator)noun WordoriginC16:fromLatinillustrāretomakelight,explain,fromlustrāretopurify,brighten;seelustrum WordFrequency illustrateinAmericanEnglish (ˈɪləˌstreɪt ;alsoɪˈlʌsˌtreɪt ) verbtransitiveWordforms:ˈillusˌtratedorˈillusˌtrating1. a.  tomakeclear;explain b.  tomakeclearoreasilyunderstoodbyexamples,comparisons,etc.;exemplify 2. a.  tofurnish(books,etc.)withexplanatoryordecorativedrawings,designs,orpictures b.  toexplainordecoratesaidofpictures,etc. 3. Obsoletea.  tomakeluminous;illuminate b.  toenlighten c.  tomakebright;adorn d.  tomakeillustrious verbintransitive4.  toofferanexampleforclarification Webster’sNewWorldCollegeDictionary,4thEdition.Copyright©2010by HoughtonMifflinHarcourt.Allrightsreserved. Wordorigin