Definitions for silhouette
ˌsɪl uˈɛtsil·hou·ette

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. silhouettenoun

   an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow)

2. silhouetteverb

   a drawing of the outline of an object; filled in with some uniform color

3. silhouetteverb

   project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette

4. silhouetteverb

   represent by a silhouette

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. silhouettenoun

   An illustrated outline filled in with a solid color(s), usually only black, and intended to represent the shape of an object without revealing any other visual details; a similar appearance produced when the object being viewed is situated in relative darkness with brighter lighting behind it; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be.

   I could see a silhouette of a figure looking out from the window, but I couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman.

2. silhouetteverb

   To represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette.

3. Etymology: From silhouette.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Silhouette

   A silhouette (English: SIL-oo-ET, French: [silwɛt]) is the image of a person, animal, object or scene represented as a solid shape of a single colour, usually black, with its edges matching the outline of the subject. The interior of a silhouette is featureless, and the silhouette is usually presented on a light background, usually white, or none at all. The silhouette differs from an outline, which depicts the edge of an object in a linear form, while a silhouette appears as a solid shape. Silhouette images may be created in any visual artistic media, but were first used to describe pieces of cut paper, which were then stuck to a backing in a contrasting colour, and often framed. Cutting portraits, generally in profile, from black card became popular in the mid-18th century, though the term silhouette was seldom used until the early decades of the 19th century, and the tradition has continued under this name into the 21st century. They represented a cheap but effective alternative to the portrait miniature, and skilled specialist artists could cut a high-quality bust portrait, by far the most common style, in a matter of minutes, working purely by eye. Other artists, especially from about 1790, drew an outline on paper, then painted it in, which could be equally quick. From its original graphic meaning, the term silhouette has been extended to describe the sight or representation of a person, object or scene that is backlit, and appears dark against a lighter background. Anything that appears this way, for example, a figure standing backlit in a doorway, may be described as "in silhouette". Because a silhouette emphasises the outline, the word has also been used in the fields of fashion and fitness to describe the shape of a person's body or the shape created by wearing clothing of a particular style or period.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. silhouette

   A silhouette is an outline or a general shape of an object, person, or scene that appears solid and dark when viewed against a lighter background. Usually, the details within the shape are not visible, only the outline is seen. This term can also refer to a dark image on a light background in photography or art.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Silhouettenoun

   a representation of the outlines of an object filled in with a black color; a profile portrait in black, such as a shadow appears to be

2. Silhouetteverb

   to represent by a silhouette; to project upon a background, so as to be like a silhouette

3. Etymology: [F.; -- so called from Etienne de Silhoutte, a French minister of finance in 1759, whise diversion it was to make such portraits on the walls of his apartments.]

WikidataRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Silhouette

   A silhouette is the image of a person, an object or scene represented as a solid shape of a single colour, usually black, its edges matching the outline of the subject. The interior of a silhouette is featureless, and the whole is typically presented on a light background, usually white, or none at all. The silhouette differs from an outline which depicts the edge of an object in a linear form, while a silhouette appears as a solid shape. Silhouette images may be created in any visual artistic media, but the term normally describes pieces of cut paper, which were then stuck to a backing in a contrasting colour, and often framed. Cutting portraits, generally in profile, from black card became popular in the mid-18th century, though the term “silhouette” was seldom used until the early decades of the 19th century, and the tradition has continued under this name into the 21st century. They represented a cheap but effective alternative to the portrait miniature, and skilled specialist artists could cut a high-quality bust portrait, by far the most common style, in a matter of minutes, working purely by eye. Other artists, especially from about 1790, drew an outline on paper, then painted it in, which could be equally quick. The leading 18th-century English "profilist" in painting, John Miers, advertised "three minute sittings", and the cost might be as low as half a crown around 1800. Miers' superior products could be in grisaille, with delicate highlights added in gold or yellow, and examples might be painted on various backings, including gesso, glass or ivory. The size was normally small, with many designed to fit into a locket, but otherwise a bust some 3 to 5 inches high was typical, with half- or full-length portraits proportionately larger.

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Silhouette

   name given to the profile of a portrait filled in with black; a design familiar to the ancients, and in vogue in France during the reign of Louis XV.

Etymology and OriginsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Silhouette

   After Etienne de Silhouette, Comptroller of Finance under Louis XV., who was the first to have his features outlined from a side view on black paper.

Matched Categories

1. • Outline
   • Project
   • Represent

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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How to pronounce silhouette?

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 silhouette in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of silhouette in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of silhouette in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of silhouette in a Sentence

1. Seb Lyall:

   Every table that you sit at is designed so that the sight is obstructed between other dining parties, the restaurant is partitioned or there’s bamboo or you only see someone’s back or a silhouette or their shadows from candles.

2. Randy Serraglio:

   It takes years to plan and implement a project like this, but when you look up on the ridge top in the dawn light and see the silhouette of a bighorn against the morning sky, it makes it all worthwhile.

3. Peter Pilotto:

   For us it was not really about launching menswear yet because we are not yet, but it was more about seeing how to change the female silhouette, as male designers we feel that more than ever it's important to connect even deeper to the garments so we wanted to be able to try them on ourselves and understand how they feel.

4. Katniss Everdeens:

   I made a hoop skirt out of toilet paper, tape and glue, it was definitely the most difficult part of Katniss Everdeens wedding dress, which, you do n’t even see in the end. But it created the silhouette that I wanted.

5. Clifford Villalon:

   Anything that glows in the dark can be a silhouette of hope for mankind.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=silhouette
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Silhouette
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silhouette
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silhouette
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=silhouette
7. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Silhouette
8. ^ Etymology and Origins
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/54657/pg54657-images.html#:~:text=silhouette
9. ^ Usage in printed sources
   https://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=silhouette