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

Princeton's WordNet(2.75 / 4 votes)Rate this definition:

1. exemplify, illustrate, instanceverb

   clarify by giving an example of

2. illustrateverb

   depict with an illustration

3. illustrateverb

   supply with illustrations

   "illustrate a book with drawings"

Wiktionary(2.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. illustrateverb

   To shed light upon; to illuminate.

2. illustrateverb

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

3. illustrateverb

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

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To ILLUSTRATEverb

   Etymology: illustro, Latin; illustrer, Fr.

   1. To brighten with light.2. To brighten with honour.

   Matter to me of glory! whom their hate
   Illustrates, when they see all regal pow'r
   Giv'n me to quell their pride. John Milton, Paradise Lost.

   Thee she enroll'd her garter'd knights among,
   Illustrating the noble list. Phillips.

   3. To explain; to clear; to elucidate.

   They take up popular conceits, and from tradition unjustifiable, or really false, illustrate matters of undeniable truth. Thomas Browne, Vulgar Errours.

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

1. Illustrateverb

   to make clear, bright, or luminous

2. Illustrateverb

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

3. Illustrateverb

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

4. Illustrateverb

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

5. Illustrateverb

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

6. Illustrateadjective

   illustrated; distinguished; illustrious

7. 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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Art
   • Decorate
   • Elaborate
   • Picture

British National Corpus

1. Verbs Frequency

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

How to pronounce illustrate?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Oscar Wilde:

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

2. Lawrence Yun:

   Significant price increases throughout the country simply illustrate strong demand and record-low housing supply, the record-high home prices are happening across nearly all markets, big and small, even in those metros that have long been considered off-the-radar in prior years for many home seekers.

3. Hao Zhou:

   To cope with this risk, monetary policy could illustrate further easing bias. For the FX market, risk-off mode is likely to dominate for the time being.

4. Ben Cowling:

   For this outbreak, I think they'll be down to zero fairly soon, but it does illustrate the risks of Covid still in a zero Covid strategy, this won't be the last outbreak -- there will be more outbreaks in the months to come.

5. Confucius:

   What the great learning teaches, is to illustrate illustrious virtue; to renovate the people; and to rest in the highest excellence.

Popularity rank by frequency of use