illustrate

Illustrate is defined as to make clear or to tell a story using drawings, pictures, examples or comparisons.

(verb)

See illustrate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

1. to make clear; explain
2. to make clear or easily understood by examples, comparisons, etc.; exemplify
1. to furnish (books, etc.) with explanatory or decorative drawings, designs, or pictures
2. to explain or decorate: said of pictures, etc.
Obsolete
1. to make luminous; illuminate
2. to enlighten
3. to make bright; adorn
4. to make illustrious

Origin: < L illustratus, pp. of illustrare, to light up, illuminate < in-, in + lustrare, to illuminate < lustrum: see lustrum

intransitive verb

to offer an example for clarification

See illustrate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb il·lus·trat·ed, il·lus·trat·ing, il·lus·trates

verb, transitive

a. To clarify, as by use of examples or comparisons: The editor illustrated the definition with an example sentence.
b. To clarify by serving as an example or comparison: The example sentence illustrated the meaning of the word.
To provide (a publication) with explanatory or decorative features: illustrated the book with colorful drawings.
Obsolete To illuminate.

verb, intransitive

To present a clarification, example, or explanation.

Origin:

Origin: Latin illūstrāre, illūstrāt-

Origin: : in-, in; see in-²

Origin: + lūstrāre, to make bright; see leuk- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: