English Meaning & Definitions
An experience of sight that is deceptive or misleading, causing the viewer to perceive something that differs from objective reality.
- “The painting on the sidewalk created a startling optical illusion of a deep chasm.”
- “Magicians often use optical illusions to make objects appear or disappear in plain sight.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “optical illusion”.
The word 'optical' derives from the Ancient Greek 'optikos' (pertaining to sight), rooted in 'opsis' (view or sight). 'Illusion' comes from the Latin 'illusionem' (a mocking, deceit, or trick), from 'illudere' (to mock at, play against), combining 'in-' (against) and 'ludere' (to play). Together, the term evolved in the modern scientific and psychological eras to describe a visual trick or deceptive image perceived by the eye.
Think of 'optical' (eyes/vision) playing an 'illusion' (a magic trick) on your brain.
Frequently Asked Questions About “optical illusion”
1. What is the meaning of “optical illusion” in English?
In English, optical illusion (noun) is defined as: “An experience of sight that is deceptive or misleading, causing the viewer to perceive something that differs from objective reality.”.
2. How do you use “optical illusion” in a sentence?
“The painting on the sidewalk created a startling optical illusion of a deep chasm.”
3. What are English synonyms of “optical illusion”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “optical illusion”?
The word 'optical' derives from the Ancient Greek 'optikos' (pertaining to sight), rooted in 'opsis' (view or sight). 'Illusion' comes from the Latin 'illusionem' (a mocking, deceit, or trick), from 'illudere' (to mock at, play against), combining 'in-' (against) and 'ludere' (to play). Together, the term evolved in the modern scientific and psychological eras to describe a visual trick or deceptive image perceived by the eye.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.