Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
illumine
illuminism
illus.
illusion
illusionism
illusionist
illusive
illusory
illustrate
illustration
illustrative
illustrious
illuvia
illuviation
illuvium
Illyria
Illyrian
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

illustrate

il·lus·trate [ íllə stràyt ] (past and past participle il·lus·trat·ed, present participle il·lus·trat·ing, 3rd person present singular il·lus·trates)


verb 
Definition:
 
1. transitive verb accompany something with pictures: to provide explanatory or decorative pictures to accompany a printed, spoken, or electronic text
The book was illustrated with diagrams.

2. transitive and intransitive verb fully explain something: to clarify or explain something by giving examples or making comparisons

3. transitive verb be characteristic of something: to be a good example of something, or serve to demonstrate something and make it clear
a case that illustrates the need for legislation

[Early 16th century. < Latin illustrat-, past participle of illustrare "light up" < lustrare (see luster)]

il·lus·tra·tor noun
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft