- [countable] a drawing or picture in a book, magazine, for decoration or to explain something
- 50 full-colour illustrations
- detailed illustrations of animals, birds and plants
- illustration by somebody a volume of Chaucer with illustrations by Edward Burne-Jones
- illustration for something He produced illustrations for children's books.
Extra ExamplesTopics Artb2- Her illustrations have appeared in the pages of numerous publications.
- The kite is assembled as shown in the illustration.
- a wonderful book with full-page illustrations
- the illustrations accompanying the text
- the new Inca map, with a detailed illustration of ancient Machu Picchu
- The illustration on page 10 shows the layout of the area.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- black-and-white
- colour/color
- coloured/colored
- …
- depict something
- show something
- accompany something
- …
- in an/the illustration
- with an/the illustration
- illustration by
- …
- [uncountable] the process of illustrating something
- the art of book illustration
- [countable, uncountable] a story, an event or an example that clearly shows the truth about something
- The statistics are a clear illustration of the point I am trying to make.
- as an illustration I use this case as an illustration.
- Let me, by way of illustration, quote from one of her poems.
Synonyms exampleexamplecase ▪ instance ▪ specimen ▪ illustrationThese are all words for a thing or situation that is typical of a particular group or set, and is sometimes used to support an argument.example something such as an object, a fact or a situation that shows, explains or supports what you say; a thing that is typical of or represents a particular group or set:- Can you give me an example of what you mean?
- In some cases people have had to wait several weeks for an appointment.
- The report highlights a number of instances of injustice.
- The aquarium has some interesting specimens of unusual tropical fish.
- The statistics are a clear illustration of the point I am trying to make.
- a(n) example/case/instance/specimen/illustration of something
- in a particular case/instance
- for example/instance
Extra Examples- Chicago serves as an illustration of the problems faced by such cities.
- These figures are for illustration purposes only.
- These events are a graphic illustration of the fact that their promises cannot be trusted.
- It was a textbook illustration of the way the UN works.
- Explain the policy of détente and provide some illustrations of how it worked in practice.
- As an illustration of this point, I'm going to tell you a true story.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- excellent
- good
- perfect
- …
- serve as
- give (somebody)
- offer
- …
- purposes
- as an illustration
- by way of illustration
Word Originlate Middle English (in the sense ‘illumination; spiritual or intellectual enlightenment’): via Old French from Latin illustratio(n-), from the verb illustrare, from in- ‘upon’ + lustrare ‘illuminate’.
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illustration