Definitions for illustrate
ˈɪl əˌstreɪt, ɪˈlʌs treɪtil·lus·trate

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. exemplify, illustrate, instance(verb)

   clarify by giving an example of

2. illustrate(verb)

   depict with an illustration

3. illustrate(verb)

   supply with illustrations

   "illustrate a book with drawings"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. illustrate(Verb)

   To shed light upon; to illuminate.

2. illustrate(Verb)

   To clarify something by giving, or serving as, an example or a comparison.

3. illustrate(Verb)

   To provide a book or other publication with pictures, diagrams or other explanatory or decorative features.

Webster Dictionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Illustrate(verb)

   to make clear, bright, or luminous

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

2. Illustrate(verb)

   to set in a clear light; to exhibit distinctly or conspicuously

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

3. Illustrate(verb)

   to make clear, intelligible, or apprehensible; to elucidate, explain, or exemplify, as by means of figures, comparisons, and examples

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

4. Illustrate(verb)

   to adorn with pictures, as a book or a subject; to elucidate with pictures, as a history or a romance

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

5. Illustrate(verb)

   to give renown or honor to; to make illustrious; to glorify

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

6. Illustrate(adj)

   illustrated; distinguished; illustrious

   Etymology: [L. illustratus, p. p.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Illustrate

   il-lus′trāt, or il′us-trāt, v.t. to make distinguished: to make clear to the mind: to explain: to explain and adorn by pictures.—adj. (Shak.) renowned.—n. Illustrā′tion, act of making lustrous or clear: act of explaining: that which illustrates: a picture or diagram.—adjs. Illus′trative, Illus′tratory, having the quality of making clear or explaining.—adv. Illus′tratively.—n. Illus′trator.—adj. Illus′trious, morally bright, distinguished: noble: conspicuous: conferring honour.—adv. Illus′triously.—n. Illus′triousness. [L. illustrāre, -ātum, to light up—illustris, prob. in, in, lux, lucis, light.]

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'illustrate' in Verbs Frequency: #369

How to pronounce illustrate?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say illustrate in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of illustrate in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of illustrate in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of illustrate in a Sentence

1. Chamber President Joerg Wuttke:

   These worrying trends illustrate how excessive tightening of Internet controls can choke business growth and stifle investment in technology and research and development, it is therefore hugely dispiriting to see numerous member companies actively scaling back investment and expansion, and diverting their spending to other markets.

2. Caitlin Oakley:

   Actions announced today on list prices further illustrate the perverse incentives of America's drug pricing system, drug companies raising their prices and offsetting them with higher rebates benefits everyone but the consumer, who routinely pays out of pocket based on list price.

3. Oscar Wilde:

   At twilight, nature is not without loveliness, though perhaps its chief use is to illustrate quotations from the poets.

4. Ted Cruz:

   The questions asked in this debate illustrate why the American people don't trust the media, this is not a cage match.

5. Mwanandeke Kindembo:

   I raised the mystics up to the ladder of knowledge, in order to illustrate that one cannot be a narcissist when you are being praised by others.

Images & Illustrations of illustrate

Popularity rank by frequency of use