n
1300–50; Middle English < Latin illūsiōn- (stem of illūsiō) irony, mocking, equivalent to illūs(us) past participle of illūdere to mock, ridicule (il- il-1 + lūd- play (see ludicrous) + -tus past participle suffix, with dt > s) + -iōn- -ion
Related forms
1. aberration, fantasy, chimera. illusion, hallucination, delusion refer to false perceptions or ideas. An illusion is a false mental image produced by misinterpretation of things that actually exist: A mirage is an illusion produced by reflection of light against the sky. A hallucination is a perception of a thing or quality that has no physical counterpart: Under the influence of LSD, Terry had hallucinations that the living-room floor was rippling. A delusion is a persistent false belief: A paranoiac has delusions of persecution.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
| illusion (ɪˈluːʒən) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality: the mirror gives an illusion of depth |
| 2. | a false or misleading perception or belief; delusion: he has the illusion that he is really clever |
| 3. | psychol See also hallucination a perception that is not true to reality, having been altered subjectively in some way in the mind of the perceiver |
| 4. | a very fine gauze or tulle used for trimmings, veils, etc |
| [C14: from Latin illūsiō deceit, from illūdere; see | |
| il'lusionary | |
| —adj | |
| il'lusional | |
| —adj | |
| il'lusioned | |
| —adj | |
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
illusion
Cite This Source
illusion il·lu·sion (ĭ-l&oomacr;'zhən)
n.
An erroneous perception of reality.
An erroneous concept or belief.
The condition of being deceived by a false perception or belief.
Something, such as a fantastic plan or desire, that causes an erroneous belief or perception.
il·lu'sion·al or il·lu'sion·ar'y (-zhə-něr'ē) adj.
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
illusion
a misrepresentation of a "real" sensory stimulus-that is, an interpretation that contradicts objective "reality" as defined by general agreement. For example, a child who perceives tree branches at night as if they are goblins may be said to be having an illusion. An illusion is distinguished from a hallucination, an experience that seems to originate without an external source of stimulation. Neither experience is necessarily a sign of psychiatric disturbance, and both are regularly and consistently reported by virtually everyone.
Learn more about illusion with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Cite This Source