diorama

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noun di·ora·ma \ ˌdī-ə-ˈra-mə , -ˈrä- \

Definition of diorama

1 :a scenic representation in which a partly translucent painting is seen from a distance through an opening

2 a :a scenic representation in which sculptured figures and lifelike details are displayed usually in miniature so as to blend indistinguishably with a realistic painted background

b :a life-size exhibit (as of a wildlife specimen or scene) with realistic natural surroundings and a painted background

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dioramic

play \-ˈra-mik\ adjective

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Recent Examples of diorama from the Web

Or that in the vestibule of the church, tucked away from the street in a nook, behind gates, is a brass diorama meant to honor Vesey and the other founders of the church.

— rachel kaadzi ghansah, GQ, "A Most American Terrorist: The Making of Dylann Roof," 21 Aug. 2017
Inside the Pacific Aviation Museum, a diorama illustrates Airman Nishikaichi’s fate.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "More than 75 years after Pearl Harbor, relics return to dead Japanese aviator's family," 3 July 2017
Idee Kwak, a music teacher, created a diorama of the property complete with 750 tiny plastic trees.

— sandhya somashekhar, Washington Post, "In Austin, the air smells of tacos and trees — and city-state conflict," 1 July 2017
The walls of the other diorama, Lifestyle Wars, are essentially a maze filled with live ants; the same scent visitors are smelling is piped into the display.

— jane yong kim, The Atlantic, "Anicka Yi’s Strangely Persuasive World of Smells," 25 June 2017
The excavation site at Hell Creek in Montana that formed the basis for the dinosaur diorama provided only fragmented skeletons of the animals.

— jordan c. axelson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Thanks to new discoveries, dinosaurs at Milwaukee Public Museum get feathers," 23 June 2017
Other exhibit highlights include a skeleton and a reconstruction of the carnivorous Antarctic dinosaur Cryolophosaurus ellioti, as well as dioramas showing early sauropods, Skwerski said.

— mindy weisberger senior writer, Fox News, "Dinosaurs that once roamed Antarctica 'live' again," 23 June 2017
The first thing that people notice is the life-size diorama of a Native American and his dwelling.

— kathi santora, baltimoresun.com, "Why you need to know... Dan Coates, creator of the Liriodendron ice house exhibit," 23 June 2017
The exhibit will run from Oct. 7 through Nov. 17 and will feature life-sized dioramas of witches in history and fable.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Windham Edition," 12 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diorama.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of diorama

French, from dia- + -orama (as in panorama, from English)

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First Known Use: 1823

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See words that rhyme with diorama Britannica English: Translation of diorama for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about diorama

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diorama

Definition of diorama

dioramic

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Origin and Etymology of diorama

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diorama

Definition of diorama

dioramic

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