Main Entry:

il·lus·trate

Pronunciation:

\ˈi-ləs-ˌtrāt also i-ˈləs-\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

il·lus·trat·ed; il·lus·trat·ing

Etymology:

Latin illustratus, past participle of illustrare, from in- + lustrare to purify, make bright — more at luster

Date:

1526

transitive verb1obsolete a: enlighten b: to light up2 aarchaic : to make illustrious bobsolete (1): to make bright (2): adorn3 a: to make clear : clarify b: to make clear by giving or by serving as an example or instance c: to provide with visual features intended to explain or decorate <illustrate a book>4: to show clearly : demonstrateintransitive verb: to give an example or instance

— il·lus·tra·tor \ˈi-ləs-ˌtrā-tər also i-ˈləs-\ noun