English Meaning & Definitions
The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background, especially in dim light.
- “The mountain range formed a jagged silhouette against the orange sunset.”
- “She could see the silhouette of a man standing in the doorway.”
To cast or show something as a dark shape against a light background.
- “The lighthouse was silhouetted against the stormy night sky.”
- “The photographer silhouetted the dancers to emphasize their graceful movements.”
English Antonyms & Opposites
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “silhouette”.
Named after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–1767), a French finance minister known for his extreme austerity measures. His name became synonymous with anything cheap or minimalist, specifically the black paper profile portraits that were popular at the time because they were much less expensive than painted portraits.
Think of a 'silly wet' shadow cast on the ground after a rainstorm.
Frequently Asked Questions About “silhouette”
1. What is the meaning of “silhouette” in English?
In English, silhouette (noun) is defined as: “The dark shape and outline of someone or something visible against a lighter background, especially in dim light.”.
2. How do you use “silhouette” in a sentence?
“The mountain range formed a jagged silhouette against the orange sunset.”
3. What are English synonyms of “silhouette”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “silhouette”?
Named after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–1767), a French finance minister known for his extreme austerity measures. His name became synonymous with anything cheap or minimalist, specifically the black paper profile portraits that were popular at the time because they were much less expensive than painted portraits.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
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.