Word · CEFR B2 · Frequency #1676
illustrate
给…配插图；加插图于
to supply (a book, article, etc.) with illustrations
- 1.
To clarify something by giving, or serving as, an example or a comparison.
通过举例或比较来阐明某事。
- 2.
To provide a book or other publication with pictures, diagrams or other explanatory or decorative features.
为书籍或其他出版物提供插图、图表或其他说明性或装饰性特征。
用插图描绘；图解；通过举例或比较来阐明某事。；为书籍或其他出版物提供插图、图表或其他说明性或装饰性特征。；举例说明；作图解
In use
The teacher asked us to illustrate our reports with simple drawings.
The book is beautifully illustrated with photographs of wild animals.
She illustrated the recipe with step-by-step photos so beginners could follow.
illustrate sth
The teacher illustrated the concept with a diagram.
老师用图表说明了这个概念。
illustrate that...
This example illustrates that honesty is the best policy.
这个例子说明诚实为上策。
illustrate sth with sth
注意：介词用 with，表示使用的手段或工具。
Connections
Collocations
- illustrate a point
- 阐明观点
- He used a graph to illustrate his point.他用图表阐明了他的观点。
- illustrate the concept
- 说明概念
- The teacher drew a diagram to illustrate the concept of gravity.老师画了图来说明引力的概念。
- illustrate the process
- 说明过程
- The manual illustrates the process step by step.手册一步一步地说明了这个过程。
- illustrate with examples
- 用例子说明
- She illustrated her theory with several real-life examples.她用几个现实生活中的例子说明她的理论。
- illustrate a book
- 给书配插图
- The artist was hired to illustrate the children's book.这位艺术家受雇为这本儿童书配插图。
- illustrate the difference
Learner notes
Memory Tip
将illustrate与illustration（插图）关联，想象一幅插图就是为了阐明某个观点。
Context & Register
常见场景：academic writing、teaching demonstration、book illustration 通常用于正式或教学语境，在日常对话中较少使用。
Pronunciation & Spelling
Words ending in /streɪt/ or /treɪt/ with stress on the first syllable (demonstrate, prostrate, frustrate, orchestrate) share a similar sound pattern with illustrate. Watch out for castrate (often stressed on first syllable but varies) and strait (different spelling).
High-value vocabulary
该词属于 Oxford 核心词汇，值得优先掌握常见搭配和句型。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 3，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.