silhouette
gb/sˌɪluˈɛt/ us/sˌɪluˈɛt/
B2
English
sziluett, sziluettkép, vonalvezetés, sziluettként kirajzolódik, sziluettként kirajzol, sziluettportré
NOUN
B2
1
sziluett
B2
Usage pattern:
the silhouette of [someone/something]; a silhouette against [background]
A lone figure stood on the ridge, a silhouette against the orange sky.
Magányos alak állt a hegygerincen, sziluettként a narancssárga ég előtt.
From the window, we could see the city skyline as a jagged silhouette.
Az ablakból a város látképe recés sziluettként látszott.
The cat’s silhouette appeared in the doorway for a second and then vanished.
Learner examples
I saw his silhouette in the light.
Láttam a sziluettjét a fényben.
The tree is a silhouette at sunset.
A fa naplementekor sziluettként látszik.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use shadow when they mean silhouette; a silhouette is what you see, while a shadow is what is cast onto a surface.
Meaning
dark outline against light
Collocations
a silhouette of [someone/something]
|a dark silhouette
|a black silhouette
|a faint silhouette
|a silhouette against the sky
|silhouettes at sunset
|see [someone/something] in silhouette
|a silhouette in the doorway
|the tree’s silhouette
|the mountain silhouette
Synonyms
outline (Focuses on the outer edge rather than the whole dark shape.)
|
profile (Often used for the side view of a face or head.)
Antonyms
close-up (A close-up shows details rather than just an outline.)
Themes
visuals
|photography
|nature
Definition
a dark shape you see when the light is behind it
The dark outline of a person or object seen against a brighter background, so that details cannot be seen.
NOUN
B2
2
sziluettkép
B2
sziluett
B2
Usage pattern:
a silhouette of [someone/something]
She framed a silhouette portrait of her grandmother on the mantelpiece.
A kandallópárkányra tette a nagymamájáról készült bekeretezett sziluettportrét.
The album cover features a silhouette of a dancer on a white background.
Az album borítóján fehér háttér előtt egy táncos sziluettje látható.
The app can turn your photo into a clean silhouette for a logo.
Learner examples
This is a silhouette of a bird.
Ez egy madár sziluettje.
I made a silhouette picture in class.
Az órán készítettem egy sziluettképet.
Meaning
image showing only an outline
Collocations
a silhouette portrait
|a silhouette photograph
|a silhouette drawing
|a silhouette image
|a silhouette logo
|a silhouette poster
|create a silhouette
|a silhouette print
|a silhouette cutout
|a silhouette artwork
Synonyms
outline drawing (Emphasizes the line; a silhouette is often filled in as a solid shape.)
|
profile portrait (Often specifically a side-view portrait.)
Antonyms
full-color photo (Shows colors and details instead of a single dark shape.)
Themes
art
|photography
|design
Definition
a picture where the subject is a dark shape
A picture, photograph, or drawing that shows someone or something as a solid dark shape or simple outline against a lighter background.
NOUN
B2
3
sziluett
B2
vonalvezetés
B2
Usage pattern:
[adjective] silhouette; the silhouette of [something]
The coat has a tailored silhouette that makes it look very sharp.
A kabátnak szabott sziluettje van, ettől nagyon elegánsnak hat.
They redesigned the lamp with a simpler silhouette.
Egyszerűbb sziluettel tervezték újra a lámpát.
High-waisted trousers change the silhouette of the outfit.
Learner examples
The dress has a nice silhouette.
Szép a ruha sziluettje.
I like the silhouette of this jacket.
Tetszik ennek a kabátnak a vonalvezetése.
Common mistake:
In fashion, silhouette means the overall shape (not a shadow).
Meaning
overall shape of something
Collocations
a sleek silhouette
|a slim silhouette
|a clean silhouette
|a dramatic silhouette
|a flattering silhouette
|an A-line silhouette
|a fitted silhouette
|a boxy silhouette
|a relaxed silhouette
|a structured silhouette
Synonyms
shape (More general; silhouette emphasizes the outer outline as seen.)
|
outline (Can be a line; silhouette often refers to the whole overall form.)
Antonyms
detail (Details refer to small features rather than the overall form.)
Themes
fashion
|design
Definition
the general shape of something
The overall shape or outline of something as it is seen from the outside, especially the shape of a person’s body or a piece of clothing.
VERB
C1
4
Usage pattern:
silhouette [someone/something] against [background]; be silhouetted against [background]
The setting sun silhouetted the palm trees along the beach.
A lemenő nap sziluettként rajzolta ki a part menti pálmafákat.
A lone cyclist was silhouetted against the foggy horizon.
Egy magányos kerékpáros sziluettként rajzolódott ki a ködös horizont előtt.
Bright stage lights silhouetted the singer as she walked on.
Learner examples
The light silhouetted the trees.
A fény sziluettként rajzolta ki a fákat.
He was silhouetted against the sky.
Sziluettként rajzolódott ki az égbolt előtt.
Meaning
appear as a dark outline
Collocations
be silhouetted against the sky
|be silhouetted against the sunset
|silhouette a figure
|silhouette the skyline
|silhouette the trees
|silhouette [someone] in a doorway
|silhouette [something] with backlighting
|silhouetted in the mist
Synonyms
backlight (Photography term focusing on lighting; silhouette focuses on the resulting dark shape.)
|
outline (Can mean to draw edges; silhouette means to show as a solid dark shape.)
Antonyms
illuminate (To illuminate makes details visible rather than turning something into a dark shape.)
Themes
photography
|visuals
Definition
to make something look like a dark shape by putting light behind it
To cause someone or something to look like a dark shape against a lighter background, or to appear that way because of backlighting.
NOUN
C1
5
sziluettkép
C1
Usage pattern:
a silhouette of [someone]
In the museum, we saw a collection of 19th-century silhouettes.
A múzeumban 19. századi sziluettportrék gyűjteményét láttuk.
Her aunt kept a paper silhouette of their ancestor in a wooden frame.
A nagynénje fa keretben őrizte az ősük papírból kivágott sziluettportréját.
The artist offered quick silhouettes at the summer fair.
Meaning
cut-paper profile portrait
Collocations
a Georgian silhouette
|a Victorian silhouette
|a cut-paper silhouette
|a silhouette miniature
|a silhouette portrait
|a silhouette artist
|a silhouette keepsake
Synonyms
paper cutout portrait (Describes the method; silhouette is the traditional name.)
|
profile (Only covers the side-view aspect, not the cutout style.)
Themes
art
|history
Definition
an old-style profile picture made from cut paper
A small portrait, often in side view, traditionally made as a dark cut-paper shape mounted on a light background.
Grammar
Dictionary form
silhouette
IPA
GB/sˌɪluˈɛt/
US/sˌɪluˈɛt/
Syllables & stress
sil - hou - ette (3 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ette)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: silhouette
- Plural: silhouettes
Verb
- Base: silhouette
- 3rd Person Singular: silhouettes
- Present Participle: silhouetting
- Past: silhouetted
Expressions
be silhouetted against [background]
1/bˈi sˌɪluˈɛtɪd əɡˈɛnst bˈækɡɹˌaʊnd/
fixed phrase
outlined against a brighter background
to look like a dark shape because the background is bright
Examples
- A church spire was silhouetted against the morning sky.
- His face was silhouetted against the window, so I couldn’t see his expression.
- The runners were silhouetted against the floodlights as they crossed the track.
Learner examples
- The bird was silhouetted against the sky.
in silhouette
1/ˈɪn sˌɪluˈɛt/
fixed phrase
seen only as an outline
seen as a dark shape with no details
Examples
- They stood in silhouette at the edge of the stage.
- In the photo, the couple is in silhouette against the sunset.
- We could just make out the hills in silhouette beyond the lake.
Learner examples
- I saw her in silhouette.
- The trees are in silhouette.