A silhouette is the solid dark shape that you see when someone or something has a bright light or pale background behind them.
The dark silhouette of the castle ruins stood out boldly against the fading light. [+ of]
Synonyms: outline, form, shape, profile More Synonyms of silhouette
2. countable noun
The silhouette of something is the outline that it has, which often helps you to recognize it.
...the distinctive silhouette of his ears. [+ of]
The shirt's ideal worn loose over leggings or tuck it in for a streamlined silhouette.
3.
See in silhouette
More Synonyms of silhouette
silhouette in British English
(ˌsɪluːˈɛt)
noun
1.
the outline of a solid figure as cast by its shadow
2.
an outline drawing filled in with black, often a profile portrait cut out of black paper and mounted on a light ground
verb
3. (transitive)
to cause to appear in silhouette
Word origin
C18: named after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French politician, perhaps referring to silhouettes as partial portraits,with a satirical allusion to Silhouette's brief career as controller general (1759)
silhouette in American English
(ˌsɪləˈwɛt)
noun
1.
a.
an outline, esp. a profile portrait, made either by cutting from black paper and fixing on a light background, or by drawing and then filling in with a solid color
b.
any dark shape or figure seen against a light background
2.
the outline of a figure, garment, etc.; contour
verb transitiveWord forms: ˌsilhouˈetted or ˌsilhouˈetting
3.
to show or project in silhouette
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈoutˌline
Word origin
Fr, after Étienne de Silhouette (1709-67), Fr minister of finance, in derogatory reference to his fiscal policiesand to such amateur portraits by him, both regarded as inept
Examples of 'silhouette' in a sentence
silhouette
Think about the overall silhouette and see what works.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Now you are saying you could see a silhouette.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
As the tree ages and loses its military bearing, the silhouette becomes looser and more drooping.
Eddison, Sydney A Patchwork Garden: Unexpected Pleasures from a Country Garden (1990)
We see silhouettes loom, hear strange sounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She said he could possibly have been excused if he had woken to see a silhouette by his bed and fired in a panic.
The Sun (2014)
A silhouette appeared behind the frosted glass on the front door.
The Sun (2007)
A loose silhouette with panel inserts is the modern way to do sheer.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Beyond establishing a dark silhouette and sufficient brightness behind it, there is little the exposure can do for the image.
Freeman, Michael Collins Complete Guide to Photography (1993)
He phones her from a bar opposite her house and is able to see her silhouette as she answers the phone and asks who is calling.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
When holding up an object against the sky, its silhouette should be visible because the entire night sky is faintly glowing.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
I could just see her silhouette.
The Sun (2014)
Once one gets accustomed to the dim lighting, his silhouette just becomes visible in a centre seat at the back of the stalls.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
Typically, a full-body plastic moulding to disguise overall shape and silhouette of the car.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In silhouette or kindly light you might be taken for my, my for your, reflection.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Some dancers, she suggests, damage their health in the search for a slim silhouette.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Choose day dresses with a twist, like a retro print, and silhouettes that shape and flatter.
The Sun (2015)
Her silhouette was looser than usual and sometimes veered into the land of experimental, Japanese minimalist shapes.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
That's because with the roof up, the new cabriolet mimics the distinctive silhouette of the coupé.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Because velvet is back from the underground and designers are using it as they would jersey or cotton, on loose silhouettes or tailored into sharp shapes.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Skinny jeans aside, the fashion silhouette has been loose and flowing, with a nod to softness and comfort.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We arrived as dusk was approaching, when the moors appeared particularly haunted and the dark silhouette of the castle ruins stood out boldly against the fading light.
Begg, Ean & Rich, Deike On the Trail of Merlin - a guide to the Celtic mystery tradition (1991)
On his DVD covers, he appears in silhouette.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
silhouette
British English: silhouette NOUN
A silhouette is the solid dark shape that you see when someone or something has a bright light or pale background behind them.
The dark silhouette of the castle ruins stood out boldly against the fading light.
American English: silhouette
Brazilian Portuguese: silhueta
Chinese: > 黑色轮廓强光或浅色背景衬托下的
European Spanish: silueta
French: silhouette
German: Silhouette
Italian: silhouette
Japanese: シルエット
Korean: 실루엣
European Portuguese: silhueta
Latin American Spanish: silueta
Chinese translation of 'silhouette'
silhouette
(sɪluːˈɛt)
n(c)
黑色轮(輪)廓 (hēisè lúnkuò)
vt
to be silhouetted against sth某物衬(襯)出 ... 的轮(輪)廓 (mǒuwù chènchū ... de lúnkuò)
(noun)
Definition
the outline of a dark shape seen against a light background
the dark silhouette of the castle ruins
Synonyms
outline
She could see only the hazy outline of the trees.
form
She saw the form of a person coming towards her.
shape
the shapes of the trees against the sky
profile
His handsome profile was turned away from us.
delineation
His razor-sharp delineation of ordinary life.
(verb)
Definition
to show (something) in silhouette
firefighters silhouetted against the burning wreckage
Synonyms
outline
The building was a beautiful sight, outlined against the starry sky.
define
Armed forces were deployed to define military zones.
delineate
The relationship between Church and State was delineated in a formal agreement.
etch
demarcate
The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.
delimit
This is not meant to delimit what approaches social researchers can adopt.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of define
Definition
to show clearly the outline of
Armed forces were deployed to define military zones.
Synonyms
mark out,
outline,
limit,
bound,
delineate,
circumscribe,
demarcate,
delimit
in the sense of delimit
Definition
to mark or lay down the limits of
This is not meant to delimit what approaches social researchers can adopt.
Synonyms
define,
mark (out),
determine,
fix,
bound,
demarcate
in the sense of delineate
Definition
to describe in words
The relationship between Church and State was delineated in a formal agreement.
Synonyms
outline,
describe,
draw,
picture,
paint,
chart,
trace,
portray,
sketch,
render,
depict,
characterize,
map out
Nearby words of
silhouette
silence
silent
silently
silhouette
silky
silly
silt
Synonyms of 'silhouette'
silhouette
Explore 'silhouette' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of delineation
His razor-sharp delineation of ordinary life.
Synonyms
outline,
description,
account,
drawing,
picture,
chart,
tracing,
portrait,
representation,
diagram,
portrayal,
depiction
in the sense of demarcate
The police demarcated the city into eighteen geographical divisions.
Synonyms
delimit,
mark,
separate,
determine,
fix,
define,
differentiate,
distinguish between
in the sense of form
Definition
a visible person or animal
She saw the form of a person coming towards her.
Synonyms
build,
being,
body,
figure,
shape,
frame,
outline,
anatomy,
silhouette,
physique,
person
in the sense of profile
Definition
an outline, esp. of the human face, as seen from the side