Quantcast
 
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

illusory

 - 4 dictionary results

il⋅lu⋅so⋅ry

[i-loo-suh-ree, -zuh-]
–adjective
1. causing illusion; deceptive; misleading.
2. of the nature of an illusion; unreal.

Origin:
1590–1600; < LL illūsōrius, equiv. to illūd(ere) to mock, ridicule (see illusion ) + -tōrius -tory 1


il⋅lu⋅so⋅ri⋅ly, adverb
il⋅lu⋅so⋅ri⋅ness, noun


1. fallacious, specious, false. 2. imaginary; visionary, fancied.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To illusory
il·lu·so·ry   (ĭ-lōō'sə-rē, -zə-rē)   
adj.  Produced by, based on, or having the nature of an illusion; deceptive: "Secret activities offer presidents the alluring but often illusory promise that they can achieve foreign policy goals without the bothersome debate and open decision that are staples of democracy" (Tom Wicker).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: il·lu·so·ry
Pronunciation: i-'lü-s&-rE, -z&-rE
Function: adjective
: likely to mislead or deceive : FALSE, DECEPTIVE illusory plea bargain leading to a longer sentence than expected>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: il·lu·so·ry
Pronunciation: il-'üs-(&-)rE, -'üz-
Function: adjective
: based on or producing illusion : being deceptive illusory displacement of the visual field in man when the eyes are moved passively —C. T. Lombroso & Ruggero Corazza>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see illusory on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: