Illustrate

Illustrate is a verb with several related senses. It can mean to explain or clarify something by providing examples, demonstrations, or analogies; for example, illustrating a concept with a case study. It can also mean to produce visual representations, such as drawings, paintings, or digital images, that accompany or explain a text, as in illustrated books or articles.

Etymology: from Latin illustrare "to illuminate, make clear," via Old French illustrer, into English. The noun illustration and the adjective illustrative share the same root.

In publishing and the arts, an illustrator creates images that accompany written content. Illustrations can be editorial, narrative, or technical, and they employ various media, from pen and ink to photography and computer graphics.

In science, education, and data presentation, illustrating involves diagrams, charts, and infographics that help readers understand complex information. The term is often used metaphorically as well, as in "to illustrate a point with an example."