illustration

[il-uh-strey-shuh n] /ˌɪl əˈstreɪ ʃən/

noun

something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.

a comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

the act or process of illuminating.

the act of clarifying or explaining; elucidation.

Archaic. illustriousness; distinction.

Origin

1325-75; Middle English < Latin illustrātiōn- (stem of illustrātiō) the act of making vivid, illustrating. See illustrate, -ion

Related forms

nonillustration, noun

overillustration, noun

preillustration, noun

reillustration, noun

superillustration, noun

Synonyms

2. explication. See case¹ .

Examples from the web for illustration

In illustration b, the image is even more compelling.
Watch a video illustration of what scientists can learn from footprints.
The ability to also scan an illustration makes this information-gathering and decision-making process much more efficient.
The fact that these two asked what their final grade was is an illustration of this.
The text suggests the dog, but the illustration suggests the observer.
Memories are stored in a region of the brain called the hippocampus, shown in red in this computer illustration.
As a graphic arts center, they also thought a children's book illustration show around the holidays was timely.
To me that was a dramatic illustration of the importance of role models.
In this way scientific illustration closely mirrors the scientific process itself.
The lowdown on low-price computer illustration programs.

British Dictionary definitions for illustration

illustration

/ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/

noun

pictorial matter used to explain or decorate a text

an example or demonstration: an illustration of his ability

the act of illustrating or the state of being illustrated

Derived Forms

illustrational, adjective

Word Origin and History for illustration

c.1400, "a shining;" early 15c., "a manifestation;" mid-15c., "a spiritual illumination," from Old French illustration "apparition, appearance," and directly from Latin illustrationem (nominative illustratio) "vivid representation" (in writing), literally "an enlightening," from past participle stem of illustrare "light up, make light, illuminate;" figuratively "make clear, disclose, explain; adorn, render distinguished," from assimilated form of in- "in" (see in- (2)) + lustrare "make bright, illuminate," related to lucere "shine," lux "light" (see light (n.)). Mental sense of "act of making clear in the mind" is from 1580s. Meaning "an illustrative picture" is from 1816.