ENGLISH
REFERENCE

illustrations

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˌɪɫəˈstɹeɪʃənz// UK //ˌɪləstɹˈeɪʃənz// il·lus·tra·tions

n. pictures, drawings, or diagrams in a book or magazine that help explain the text or make it look better.

n. visual representations, such as drawings or diagrams, intended to clarify or decorate a text.


SIMPLE

The book contains many beautiful illustrations of local birds.

CONTEXTUAL

The textbook uses clear illustrations to show how the heart pumps blood through the body.

COMPLEX

While the prose is certainly evocative, it is the intricate hand-drawn illustrations that truly bring the fantastical world of the novel to life for the reader.

Synonyms
Usage

Often used in the plural when referring to the collection of images within a single work.

© 2026 English Reference