ILLUSTRATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does illustration mean? 

• ILLUSTRATION (noun)
  The noun ILLUSTRATION has 4 senses:

1. artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

2. showing by example

3. an item of information that is typical of a class or group

4. a visual representation (a picture or diagram) that is used make some subject more pleasing or easier to understand

  Familiarity information: ILLUSTRATION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ILLUSTRATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Artwork that helps make something clear or attractive

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("illustration" is a kind of...):

art; artwork; graphics; nontextual matter (photographs or other visual representations in a printed publication)

Meronyms (parts of "illustration"):

caption; legend (brief description accompanying an illustration)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "illustration"):

pictorial matter; picture (illustrations used to decorate or explain a text)

fig; figure (a diagram or picture illustrating textual material)

Derivation:

illustrate (supply with illustrations)

illustrate (depict with an illustration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Showing by example

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

exemplification; illustration

Hypernyms ("illustration" is a kind of...):

demo; demonstration (a visual presentation showing how something works)

Derivation:

illustrate (clarify by giving an example of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An item of information that is typical of a class or group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

example; illustration; instance; representative

Context example:

there is an example on page 10

Hypernyms ("illustration" is a kind of...):

information (knowledge acquired through study or experience or instruction)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "illustration"):

apology; excuse (a poor example)

exception (an instance that does not conform to a rule or generalization)

case in point; precedent (an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time)

quintessence (the most typical example or representative of a type)

sample (a small part of something intended as representative of the whole)

specimen (an example regarded as typical of its class)

Derivation:

illustrate (clarify by giving an example of)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A visual representation (a picture or diagram) that is used make some subject more pleasing or easier to understand

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("illustration" is a kind of...):

representation (a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "illustration"):

plate (a full-page illustration (usually on slick paper))

Derivation:

illustrate (supply with illustrations)

illustrate (depict with an illustration)

 Context examples 

"Give me an illustration," he asked.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

“Merely to the illustration of your character,” said she, endeavouring to shake off her gravity.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

For the sake of illustration, he compared the process with a brick wall.

(Brazil scientists discover Zika virus inhibitor, Agência Brasil)

In the illustration the forms are separated to reduce confusion however ceramide produced by either method can stimulate either cascade depending on the presence of specific co-factors and activators.

(Ceramide Signaling Pathway BioCarta, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Sitka Charley smoked his pipe and gazed thoughtfully at the Police Gazette illustration on the wall.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

There is an illustration here which would interest you.

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Willoughby thought the same; and their behaviour at all times, was an illustration of their opinions.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Jo glanced at the sheet and saw a pleasing illustration composed of a lunatic, a corpse, a villain, and a viper.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

A brief description accompanying an illustration.

(Caption, NCI Thesaurus)

A curious friendship theirs must have been: a pointed illustration, indeed, of the old adage that "extremes meet."

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)