illustrateverb [ T ]
uk/ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/us/ˈɪl.ə.streɪt/illustrate verb [ T ] (DRAW PICTURES)
B2 to draw pictures for a book, magazine, etc.:
a beautifully illustrated book/old manuscript
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Painting, drawing & printing
- airbrush
- brushstroke
- brushwork
- chiaroscuro
- colour
- colour sth in
- draft
- drew
- engraving
- etching
- foreshorten
- freehand
- rough
- rough sth in
- rule
- shade sth in
- stencil
- stipple
- tempera
- wash
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illustrate verb [ T ] (EXPLAIN)
C1 to show the meaning or truth of something more clearly, especially by giving examples:
The lecturer illustrated his point with a diagram on the blackboard.
This latest conflict further illustrates the weakness of the UN.
[ + question word ] The exhibition will illustrate how life evolved from water.
More examples
- It is sometimes easier to illustrate an abstract concept by analogy with something concrete.
- The incident graphically illustrates just how dangerous the situation in the war zone has become.
- She illustrated her point by carrying out a simple experiment.
- The incident illustrates the need for tighter security.
- I need a volunteer to help me illustrate this next concept.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Defining & explaining
- (do you) see what I mean? idiom
- account (to sb) for sth
- accountable
- cast
- clarify
- convey
- demystify
- descriptive
- every picture tells a story idiom
- evocative
- evoke
- explicable
- explicate
- fill
- get sth across
- mean
- scene
- schematic
- that is to say ... idiom
- unfold
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