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illusion

Syllabification: (il·lu·sion)
Pronunciation: /iˈlo͞oZHən/
Translate illusion | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of illusion

noun

  • a thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses:the illusion makes parallel lines seem to diverge by placing them on a zigzag-striped background
  • a deceptive appearance or impression:the illusion of family togetherness the tension between illusion and reality
  • a false idea or belief:he had no illusions about the trouble she was in

Phrases

be under the illusion that

believe mistakenly that:the world is under the illusion that the original painting still hangs in the Winter Palace

be under no illusion (or illusions)

be fully aware of the true state of affairs.

Derivatives

illusional

Pronunciation: /-ZHənl/
adjective

Origin:

Middle English (in the sense 'deceiving, deception'): via Old French from Latin illusio(n-), from illudere 'to mock', from in- 'against' + ludere 'play'

illusion in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of illusion in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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