Dictionary

illustrate en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ɪˈlasˌtɹæɪt/ (Australia)
• /ˈɪl.jəˌstɹeɪt/ (UK)
• (UK) audio
• /ˈɪl.əˌstɹæɪt/ (Australia)
• /ɪˈlʌsˌtɹeɪt/ (US)
• /ˈɪl.əˌstɹeɪt/ (US)
• /ɪˈlʌsˌtɹeɪt/ (UK)
• /ˈɪl.jʊˌstɹeɪt/ (UK)

Etymology

Back-formation from illustration.

Meanings

1. (figuratively) To clarify something by giving, or serving as, an example or a comparison.
   • England were graphically illustrating the huge gulf in class between the sides and it was no surprise when Lampard added the second just before the half hour. Steven Gerrard found his Liverpool team-mate Glen Johnson and Lampard arrived in the area with perfect timing to glide a header beyond Namasco. 2012 September 7, Phil McNulty, “Moldova 0-5 England”, in BBC Sport:
   • We illustrate our definitions by including quotations or simple examples.
   • To prove him, and illustrate his high worth. 1671, John Milton, “The First Book”, in Paradise Regain’d. A Poem. In IV Books. To which is Added, Samson Agonistes, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for John Starkey […], →OCLC:
2. To provide a book or other publication with pictures, diagrams or other explanatory or decorative features.
   • The economics textbook was illustrated with many graphs.
   • Michael Thompson said he had been photographing prison buildings on Wednesday, Dec. 3, to illustrate an article by Tom Reeves […] when an unidentified plainclothes employee of the prison approached him. 1980 December 13, David Morris, “Prison Officials Seize GCN Film”, in Gay Community News, volume 8, number 21, page 1:
3. (obsolete) To shed light upon.
   • Here, when the morn illustrates all the sky. 1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC:
4. (obsolete) To give renown or honour to; to make illustrious.
   • Matter to me of glory, whom their hate / Illustrates. 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

illustrable · overillustrate · reillustrate · illustrator · illustratable · illustratory

Relateds

shed light upon

Synonyms

lighten · illuminate · illuminate · luster · fire · beshine · illumine · belight · illume · alight · irradiate · bright · illustrate · shed light on · light · enlighten · lustrate · light up · glorify

Translations (72)

uk проілюструва́ти (to clarify by giving as an example) · is lýsa (to clarify by giving as an example) · hi वाख्या (to clarify by giving as an example) · cy darlunio (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · uk ілюструва́ти (to clarify by giving as an example) · it illustrare (to clarify by giving as an example) · cs ilustrovat (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · io lumizar (to clarify by giving as an example) · cs ilustrovat (to clarify by giving as an example) · bg илюстрирам (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · be ілюстрава́ць (to clarify by giving as an example) · cmn 闡明 /阐明 (to clarify by giving as an example) · cmn 舉例說明 /举例说明 (to clarify by giving as an example) · ga maisigh (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · hu illusztrál (to clarify by giving as an example) · ru де́лать иллюстра́ции (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · cy egluro (to clarify by giving as an example) · sv illustrera (to clarify by giving as an example) · ro ilustra (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · ru поясня́ть (to clarify by giving as an example) · es ilustrar (to clarify by giving as an example) · ru иллюстри́ровать (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · uk ілюструва́ти (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · gl ilustrar (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · he אִיֵּר (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · gl ilustrar (to clarify by giving as an example) · io ilustrar (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · be ілюстрава́ць (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · pon mangitikihada (to clarify by giving as an example) · de illustrieren (to clarify by giving as an example) · wa mostrer (to clarify by giving as an example) · pl zobrazować (to clarify by giving as an example) · is myndskreyta (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · it descrivere (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · hu szemléltet (to clarify by giving as an example) · ga léirigh (to clarify by giving as an example) · hi स्पष्टीकरण (to clarify by giving as an example) · fi kuvittaa (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · hu illusztrál (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · fr illustrer (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · it illustrare (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · ro ilustra (to clarify by giving as an example) · fr illustrer (to clarify by giving as an example) · pt ilustrar (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · ru иллюстри́ровать (to clarify by giving as an example) · ru оформля́ть (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · io explikar (to clarify by giving as an example) · io klarigar (to clarify by giving as an example) · ru приводи́ть приме́ры (to clarify by giving as an example) · nl illustreren (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · cy esbonio (to clarify by giving as an example) · sv illustrera (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · uk проілюструва́ти (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · nl illustreren (to clarify by giving as an example) · wa enimådjî (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · fi kuvata (to clarify by giving as an example) · he הִמְחִישׁ (to clarify by giving as an example) · it esemplificare (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · de illustrieren (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · it spiegare (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · hu megvilágít (to clarify by giving as an example) · it mostrare (to clarify by giving as an example) · mi whakatauira (to clarify by giving as an example) · fi havainnollistaa (to clarify by giving as an example) · eo ilustri (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · es ilustrar (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · wa espliker (to clarify by giving as an example) · pl obrazować (to clarify by giving as an example) · bg пояснявам (to clarify by giving as an example) · pl ilustrować (to add explanatory or decoratory features) · pt ilustrar (to clarify by giving as an example) · sq e zënë (to clarify by giving as an example)