# diagram

/ˈdaɪəˌɡɹæm/ (US) · /dˈaɪəɡɹˌæm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/diagram
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. explanatory drawing

noun · CEFR B1

a drawing that shows the parts of something or explains how it works.

For teachers: a schematic or illustrative drawing intended to explain the internal workings or structural relationships of a whole.

- The instruction manual includes a diagram showing how to assemble the bookshelf.
- The textbook provided a detailed diagram of the human heart, clearly labelling the various chambers and valves to assist the students' understanding.

### 2. graph or chart

noun · CEFR B1

a drawing that uses lines or shapes to show information or data.

For teachers: a symbolic representation of information using visualisation techniques like graphs or charts.

- The teacher drew a Venn diagram on the board to compare the two stories.
- The analyst presented a flow diagram to illustrate the sequence of operations within the new supply chain management system.

### 3. to represent visually

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic

to draw a plan or sketch to explain something.

For teachers: to represent or outline something through the use of a diagram. Transitive — requires a direct object.

- We need to diagram the process before we start building the software.
- The linguist spent the afternoon diagramming complex sentences to demonstrate the underlying syntactic structures of the dialect.

## Examples

- The instruction manual includes a clear diagram of the engine.
- The teacher drew a diagram on the whiteboard to show how water moves through the environment.
- The architect presented a detailed wiring diagram to ensure the electrical contractors understood the complex routing required for the smart home system.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.