silhouette
/ˌsɪluˈet/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌsɪluˈet/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌsi-lə-ˈwet/ (ame, mw)
silhouette — noun
- silhouettesingular
- silhouettesplural
1. the dark outline of a person, animal, or object that you can see when it stands
the dark outline of a person, animal, or object that you can see when it stands in front of a bright surface, such as a sunset sky, a lighted window, or a bright screen
The fisherman saw the silhouette of a tall ship against the orange sunset.
silhouette of [something] against [background]
A cat's silhouette appeared briefly in the lighted kitchen window before jumping down.
From where Eli stood, the mountain peaks formed a dark silhouette against the morning sky.
The security camera captured only a blurry silhouette of the person near the gate.
Ishaan could make out the silhouette of a deer standing still among the trees.
用法筆記
Frequently paired with the preposition 'against' to name the bright background. The object whose silhouette is seen is usually a person, animal, tree, building, or vehicle.
常見錯誤
2. a picture or portrait that shows a person or object as a solid black shape on a
a picture or portrait that shows a person or object as a solid black shape on a light background, typically depicting someone from one side of the face only, and sometimes cut from paper
Grandma kept a Victorian silhouette of her great-grandfather hanging in the hallway.
kept a [style] silhouette of [someone]
At the fair, an artist cut a paper silhouette of Jisoo's face in two minutes.
The museum displayed a collection of eighteenth-century silhouette portraits of French nobles.
Romi painted a small silhouette of a dancer on white card and framed it.
Before photography became common, many families paid for a silhouette portrait of each child.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1 (DARK SHAPE): this sense refers to an intentional artistic item (painting, cut-out paper, or drawing), not to a naturally occurring dark outline. Object is usually 'cut,' 'painted,' 'drawn,' or 'framed.'
常見錯誤
3. the general outer shape or contour of a human figure or a thing, especially when
the general outer shape or contour of a human figure or a thing, especially when seen from a distance, in dim light, or as a simple line without fine detail
The dress was designed to follow the natural silhouette of a woman's body without tightness.
follow the natural silhouette of
Diego could recognise his brother from blocks away by his tall, thin silhouette.
The car's sleek silhouette made it look fast even when it was parked.
In the fog, the old church kept only its basic silhouette — the tower and roof.
Aylin studied the sports shoe's silhouette and decided it was too boxy for running.
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1 (DARK SHAPE), no light-background contrast is required — the focus is on the pure shape or contour. Commonly used in fashion design, architecture, and product reviews.
常見錯誤
silhouette — verb
- silhouettepresent simple I / you / we / they
- silhouettes3rd person singular
- silhouetting-ing form
- silhouettedpast simple
1. to make something appear as a dark outline against a brighter background, usuall
to make something appear as a dark outline against a brighter background, usually by placing a light source behind it — used especially in the passive form 'be silhouetted'
Hikers on the ridge were silhouetted against the bright midday sky.
passive: be silhouetted against [background]
The old windmill was silhouetted sharply against the full moon behind it.
A line of tall trees silhouetted the distant hillside where the sun was setting.
Lakshmi stood in the doorway, silhouetted by the lamp in the room behind her.
The photographer adjusted the studio lights to silhouette the dancer's body against the white wall.
- illuminate
to light up fully rather than show only a dark outline
文法句型
be silhouetted against [something]
silhouette [something] on [surface]
用法筆記
Almost always used in the past participle form (silhouetted) followed by 'against' or 'by'. The active form ('A silhouettes B') is possible but less common — prefer passive for natural English.