illustrate
[verb]
Synonyms: demonstrate, bring home, elucidate, emphasize, explain, point up, show

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Contrasted words: cloak, conceal, enshroud, mask, screen, shroud, veil
Related Words: display, exhibit, expose, show, disclose, discover, reveal, elucidate, explain, expound, interpret, demonstrate, manifest, enliven, vivify

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English Thesaurus: draw, sketch, illustrate, doodle, scribble, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

il‧lus‧trate W2 AC /ˈɪləstreɪt/ verb [transitive]
[Word Family: noun: illustration, illustrator; verb: illustrate; adjective: illustrative]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: Latin; Origin: past participle of illustrare, from lustrare 'to make pure or bright']

1. to make the meaning of something clearer by giving examples:
Let me give an example to illustrate the point.
She illustrated her discussion with diagrams.

2. to be an example which shows that something is true or that a fact exists
illustrate that
This dispute illustrates that the regime is deeply divided.
illustrate how
The following examples illustrate how this operates in practice.
This illustrates a fundamental weakness in the system.

3. to put pictures in a book, article etc:
Over a hundred diagrams, tables and pictures illustrate the book.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

illustrate
verb
I. put pictures in sth
ADV. heavily, lavishly, richly | fully | attractively, beautifully, delightfully, handsomely, superbly
PREP. with The new edition is heavily illustrated with photographs of aircraft.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

illustrate
II. make sth clear using examples/pictures
ADV. amply | admirably, aptly, neatly, nicely, well The dire consequences of chronic underfunding are nowhere better illustrated than in the nation's schools.
perfectly | merely, simply His question merely illustrates his ignorance of the subject.
clearly, dramatically, graphically, strikingly, vividly | brutally, starkly, tragically The case tragically illustrates the dangers of fireworks.
VERB + ILLUSTRATE serve to Two examples serve to illustrate this point.
be chosen to, be designed to, be intended to
PREP. to a way of illustrating to the chairman the folly of his decision

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

draw to make a picture, pattern etc using a pen or pencil:
The children were asked to draw a picture of their families.
I’m going to art classes to learn how to draw.
sketch /sketʃ/ to draw a picture of something or someone quickly and without a lot of detail:
Roy took a pencil and sketched the bird quickly, before it moved.
illustrate to draw the pictures in a book:
It’s a beautiful book, illustrated by Arthur Rackham.
doodle /ˈduːdl/ to draw shapes or patterns without really thinking about what you are doing:
He was on the phone, doodling on his notepad as he spoke.
scribble to draw shapes or lines without making a definite picture or pattern. Small children do this before they have learned to draw or write:
At the age of two, she loved scribbling with crayons and coloured pencils.
trace to copy a picture by putting a piece of thin paper over it and drawing the lines that you can see through the paper:
First trace the map, and then copy it into your workbooks.
draw on somebody's experience
The books have drawn on the experience of practising teachers.
draw on somebody's knowledge
Fortunately I was able to draw on my own knowledge of the law.
draw on somebody's resources
The committee has drawn on the resources and skills of several local people.
draw on somebody's ideas
We hope that we will be able to draw on these ideas to develop the work further.
draw on somebody's expertise (=expert knowledge and experience)
Now we can draw on the expertise of some of the most talented network engineers.
draw up a plan/scheme
Local authorities have drawn up new plans for waste disposal.
draw up a proposal
The European Communities were drawing up proposals to control the export of chemicals.
draw up a list
They drew up a list of suitable candidates for the job.
draw up guidelines
A committee of teachers has drawn up guidelines for schools on how to deal with difficult students.
draw up a report
Environmental organizations have been involved in drawing up the report.
draw up a contract/agreement
Some people draw up a contract when they get married.
draw up a timetable/schedule
They haven’t yet drawn up a timetable for the elections.
draw up a programme
A small team has drawn up a programme of action.
draw up a constitution (=set of laws and principles that govern a country)
The first Czech constitution was drawn up here in 1920.
draw up a budget (=plan of how to spend the money that is available)
Each year business managers draw up a budget.
attraction noun [uncountable and countable] a feature or quality that makes people like, want, or feel interested in something:
The excitement is part of the attraction of the job.
For many mothers, the attraction of childcare in the workplace is the chance to be near their children.
The idea of living in another country does have a certain attraction.
appeal noun [uncountable and countable] a quality that makes people like something or someone:
Much of Corfu’s appeal lies in its lively night life.
I don’t understand the appeal of this kind of music.
the lure of something noun [singular] a very attractive quality that makes you want something very much – often used about something that has a bad effect or influence:
It’s hard to resist the lure of credit cards and easy money.
The lure of urban life is especially powerful for the young.
charm noun [uncountable and countable] a pleasant quality that someone or something has that makes people like them, feel attracted to them, or be influenced by them:
He was physically attractive and possessed considerable personal charm.
The book captures Savannah’s old Southern charm perfectly.
glamour noun [uncountable] the attractive and exciting quality that is connected with wealth and success:
the glamour of Monte Carlo
Hollywood glamour
The world of modelling is famous for its glitz and glamour.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲