- 1[usually passive] to use pictures, photographs, diagrams, etc. in a book, etc. illustrate something an illustrated textbook illustrate something with something His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition.
- 2illustrate something illustrate how, what, etc… to make the meaning of something clearer by using examples, pictures, etc. To illustrate my point, let me tell you a little story. Last year's sales figures are illustrated in Figure 2. Language Bankprocessdescribing a process
- This diagram illustrates the process of paper-making. / This diagram shows how paper is made.
- First/First of all, logs are delivered to a paper mill, where the bark is removed and the wood is cut into small chips.
- Next/Second, the wood chips are pulped, either using chemicals or in a pulping machine.
- Pulping breaks down the internal structure of the wood and enables/allows the natural oils to be removed.
- Once/After the wood has been pulped, the pulp is bleached in order to remove impurities. /…is bleached so that impurities can be removed.
- The next stage is to feed the pulp into the paper machine, where it is mixed with water and then poured onto a wire conveyor belt.
- As the pulp travels along the conveyor belt, the water drains away. This causes the solid material to sink to the bottom, forming a layer of paper.
- At this point the new paper is still wet, so it is passed between large heated rollers, which press out the remaining water and simultaneously dry the paper. / …dry the paper at the same time.
- The final stage is to wind the paper onto large rolls. /Finally, the paper is wound onto large rolls.
- 3illustrate something illustrate how, what, etc… illustrate that… to show that something is true or that a situation exists synonym demonstrate The incident illustrates the need for better security measures. Language Bankillustratereferring to a chart, graph, or table
- This bar chart illustrates how many journeys people made on public transportation over a three-month period.
- This table compares bus, train, and taxi use between April and June.
- The results are shown in the chart below.
- In this pie chart, the survey results are broken down by age.
- This pie chart breaks down the survey results by age.
- As can be seen from these results, younger people use buses more than older people.
- According to these figures, bus travel accounts for 60% of public transportation use.
- From the data in the above graph, it is apparent that buses are the most widely used form of public transportation.
- amply
- best, nicely
- clearly, graphically, vividly
- importance
- point, concept, principle, thesis
- complexity, difficulty
- attempt to
- serve to
- suffice to
- be intended to
- striking, vivid
- classic
- graphical
- by way of illustrate
- for illustrate purposes
verb jump to other results
NAmE//ˈɪləˌstreɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they illustrate he / she / it illustrates
past simple illustrated
-ing form illustrating
Check pronunciation: illustrate