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View synonyms for

silhouette

[ sil-oo-et ]

noun

  1. a two-dimensional representation of the outline of an object, as a cutout or configurational drawing, uniformly filled in with black, especially a black-paper, miniature cutout of the outlines of a person's face in profile.
  2. the outline or general shape of something:

    the slim silhouette of a skyscraper.

  3. a dark image outlined against a lighter background.


verb (used with object)

silhouetted, silhouetting.
  1. to show in or as if in a silhouette.
  2. Printing. to remove the background details from (a halftone cut) so as to produce an outline effect.

silhouette

/ ˌɪːˈɛ /

noun

  1. the outline of a solid figure as cast by its shadow
  2. an outline drawing filled in with black, often a profile portrait cut out of black paper and mounted on a light ground
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to cause to appear in silhouette
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • ܲȴ·dz·t adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of silhouette1

First recorded in 1790–1800; from French à la silhouette, after Etienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French finance minister; the surname Silhouette is ultimately from Basque Zilhoeta, from zilo, zilho, zulo “hole” + -eta, toponymic suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of silhouette1

C18: named after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French politician, perhaps referring to silhouettes as partial portraits, with a satirical allusion to Silhouette's brief career as controller general (1759)
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The winner, chosen from a shortlist of 11 photographers, was Daniel Dian-Ji Wu, Taiwan, 16 years old, for his image of a skateboarder doing a trick, silhouetted against a sunset in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.

From

Their silhouette is so familiar it’s almost tangible, as though, if you reached through the screen and ran your hand through it, you’d feel a sensation you recognize and remember.

From

The Swiss chocolate bar's distinctive triangular shape is thought to have been inspired by the Matterhorn in the Alps - a silhouette of which appears on the packaging - though its true origins remain unclear.

From

But she’s focused instead on the apartment block across the street and what she believes to be an act of violence silhouetted in a window.

From

"This level of control allows us to experiment with materials, introduce innovative silhouettes, and continuously refine comfort and fit based on real feedback," says founder Utkarsh Gupta.

From

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silexsilica