diorama

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

|Updated on: 7 Jun 2018

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

See diorama defined for kids

Recent Examples of diorama from the Web

Growing up in Oklahoma City, Ruscha imagined creating a diorama of his entire Daily Oklahoman paper route, a notion equal parts Leave It to Beaver and Jorge Luis Borges.

— mark rozzo, Vanities, "Ed Ruscha Still Has Plenty More to Say About America," 30 May 2018
Life-size dioramas with mannequins appeared throughout.

— edward rothstein, WSJ, "Exploring a Museum’s Shifting Identity," 7 May 2018
In another exhibit, I was moved by a diorama depicting the Battle of Gettysburg.

— katherine rodeghier, chicagotribune.com, "Looking for Lincoln on a grown-up getaway to Springfield," 1 May 2018
The dioramas on view unite the folksy whimsy of arts and crafts with a dark sense of humor.

— maxine marshall, San Francisco Chronicle, "Art exhibit explores the tiny, detailed worlds of dioramas," 13 Mar. 2018
The styrofoam dioramas in particular seemed to captivate the audience at the exhibition’s opening.

— andrea alonso, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside a Hong Kong Gallery’s New DTLA Space, a Portuguese Artist Reflects on Globalization," 2 Mar. 2018
The displays are arranged around what remains of a quite-splendid diorama of Gloucester Harbor prepared for the 1893 world’s fair, the Columbian Exposition.

— mark feeney, BostonGlobe.com, "Celebrating Massachusetts’ other cape," 17 Apr. 2018
Made of plywood, fabric trim and photographs printed on hardboard and bond paper, the gate hides diorama scenes inside its posts.

— sam spengler, Smithsonian, "How One Museum Curator Is Bringing Burning Man Out of the Desert," 30 Mar. 2018
They are artfully arranged in diorama settings that showcase different eras of racing including pre-World War I, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and European courses including the Mille Miglia and Le Mans.

— michael milne, Philly.com, "Field-Tested Travel Tip: The World Class Auto Museum in Philly's Driveway," 26 Jan. 2018

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.