/ ˈɪləstreɪt; NAmE / verb
1.
[ vn ] [ usually passive ] illustrate sth (with sth) to use pictures, photographs, diagrams, etc. in a book, etc. :
an illustrated textbook
His lecture was illustrated with slides taken during the expedition.
2.
to make the meaning of sth clearer by using examples, pictures, etc. :
[ vn ]
To illustrate my point , let me tell you a little story.
Last year's sales figures are illustrated in Figure 2.
[also v wh- ]
3.
to show that sth is true or that a situation exists
SYN demonstrate :
[ vn ]
The incident illustrates the need for better security measures.
[also v wh- , v that ]
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WORD ORIGIN
early 16th cent. (in the sense illuminate, shed light on ): from Latin illustrat- lit up, from the verb illustrare , from in- upon + lustrare illuminate.