illusion - Definitions from Dictionary.com

6 results for: illusion

Browse Nearby Entries

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

il·lu·sion

Audio Help [i-loo-zhuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	something that deceives by producing a false or misleading impression of reality.

2.	the state or condition of being deceived; misapprehension.

3.	an instance of being deceived.

4.	Psychology. a perception, as of visual stimuli (optical illusion), that represents what is perceived in a way different from the way it is in reality.

5.	a very thin, delicate tulle of silk or nylon having a cobwebbed appearance, for trimmings, veilings, and the like.

6.	Obsolete. the act of deceiving; deception; delusion.

[Origin: 1300–50; ME < L illūsiōn- (s. of illūsiō) irony, mocking, equiv. to illūs(us) ptp. of illūdere to mock, ridicule (il- il-¹ + lūd- play (see ludicrous) + -tus ptp. suffix, with dt > s) + -iōn- -ion

]

—Related forms

il·lu·sioned, adjective

—Synonyms 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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
illusion

To learn more about illusion visit Britannica.com

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

il·lu·sion Audio Help (ĭ-lōō'zhən) Pronunciation Key

(click for larger image in new window)

n.

1. An erroneous perception of reality.
2. 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.
Illusionism in art.
A fine transparent cloth, used for dresses or trimmings.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin illūsiō, illūsiōn-, from Latin, a mocking, irony, from illūsus, past participle of illūdere, to mock : in-, against; see in-² + lūdere, to play; see leid- in Indo-European roots.]

il·lu'sion·al, il·lu'sion·ar'y (-zhə-něr'ē) adj., il·lu'sion·less adj.

(Download Now or Buy the Book)

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
illusion

c.1340, "act of deception," from O.Fr. illusion "a mocking," from L. illusionem (nom. illusio) "a mocking, jesting, irony," from illudere "mock at," lit. "to play with," from in- "at" + ludere "to play" (see ludicrous). Sense of "deceptive appearance" developed in Eng. c.1374. Illusionist "conjurer, magic act performer" is from 1850. Illusive formed in Eng. 1679; the other adj. form, illusory (1599) is from Fr. illusorie, from L.L. illusorius "of a mocking character," from L. illudere.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

illusion
noun
1.	an erroneous mental representation
2.	something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy"
3.	the act of deluding; deception by creating illusory ideas [syn: delusion]
4.	an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers [syn: magic trick]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
illusion [iˈluːʒən] noun

(something that produces) a false impression, idea or belief
Example: an optical illusion

Arabic:	وَهْم، صورة خادِعَه
Chinese (Simplified):	错觉，幻觉
Chinese (Traditional):	錯覺，幻覺
Czech:	klam
Danish:	illusion; indbildning
Dutch:	waanbeeld
Estonian:	illusioon
Finnish:	harha
French:	illusion
German:	die Täuschung
Greek:	ψευδαίσθηση, αυταπάτη
Hungarian:	(érzék)csalódás
Icelandic:	tálmynd, tálsÿn
Indonesian:	ilusi
Italian:	illusione

Japanese:	幻覚
Korean:	착각, 환상
Latvian:	ilūzija
Lithuanian:	iliuzija, apgaulė
Norwegian:	illusjon, (syns)bedrag, innbilning
Polish:	złudzenie
Portuguese (Brazil):	ilusão
Portuguese (Portugal):	ilusão
Romanian:	iluzie
Russian:	иллюзия
Slovak:	klam
Slovenian:	iluzija
Spanish:	ilusión
Swedish:	illusion
Turkish:	göz aldanması, hayalî görüntü

See also: illusionist

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Illusion

De*lu"sion\n. [L. delusio, fr. deludere. See Delude.]

1. The act of deluding; deception; a misleading of the mind. --Pope.

2. The state of being deluded or misled.

3. That which is falsely or delusively believed or propagated; false belief; error in belief.

And fondly mourned the dear delusion gone. --Prior.

Syn: Delusion, Illusion.

Usage: These words both imply some deception practiced upon the mind. Delusion is deception from want of knowledge; illusion is deception from morbid imagination. An illusion is a false show, a mere cheat on the fancy or senses. It is, in other words, some idea or image presented to the bodily or mental vision which does not exist in reality. A delusion is a false judgment, usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it. Thus we speak of the illusions of fancy, the illusions of hope, illusive prospects, illusive appearances, etc. In like manner, we speak of the delusions of stockjobbing, the delusions of honorable men, delusive appearances in trade, of being deluded by a seeming excellence. "A fanatic, either religious or political, is the subject of strong delusions; while the term illusion is applied solely to the visions of an uncontrolled imagination, the chimerical ideas of one blinded by hope, passion, or credulity, or lastly, to spectral and other ocular deceptions, to which the word delusion is never applied." --Whately.

Browse Nearby Entries: