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.

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

1. Illustrateverb

   to make clear, bright, or luminous

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

2. Illustrateverb

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

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

3. Illustrateverb

   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. Illustrateverb

   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. Illustrateverb

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

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

6. Illustrateadjective

   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.]

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. 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.

2. De Palma:

   The genius of it was how they were able to take out their questions and then illustrate the film with all these pieces of other film, and to me its quite amazing.

3. 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.

4. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz:

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

5. Susan Collins:

   Some of the allegations levied against Judge Kavanaugh illustrate why the presumption of innocence is so important, i am thinking in particular not of the allegations raised by Professor Blasey Ford, but of the allegation that, when Blasey Ford was Blasey Ford, Judge Kavanaugh drugged multiple girls and used their weakened state to facilitate gang rape.

Popularity rank by frequency of use