Definition

1. Noun:

   • A dark shape seen against a lighter background: A silhouette is the dark, solid shape of a person or object that you see because the light is behind them, not because you can see their features or colors.
   • An outline drawing filled in with a single color: A silhouette is also a picture of someone or something, often in profile, showing the outline as a solid shape of a single color (usually black) against a plain, light background.

2. Verb:

   • To show or be seen as a dark shape against a light background: To silhouette something means to cause it to appear as a dark shape with no detail, outlined against a brighter background.
   • To represent something as a silhouette: It can also mean to create an image or representation of something in the form of a silhouette.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • We could see the silhouette of a ship on the horizon.
  • The artist is famous for his cut-paper silhouettes of famous historical figures.
• Verb:
  • The setting sun silhouetted the palm trees against the orange sky.
  • The figure was silhouetted in the doorway, making it impossible to see their face.

Advanced Usage

• "in silhouette": Appearing or shown as a silhouette.
  • The mountain range was visible only in silhouette against the dawn sky.
• "to cast a silhouette": To create the dark shape of something on a surface.
  • The lamp cast a silhouette of the plant onto the wall.

Variants and Related Words

• Silhouetted (adj): Appearing as or in a silhouette.
  • The silhouetted figures stood on the hill.
• Silhouetting (n/gerund): The action of representing something as a silhouette.
  • The silhouetting of the city skyline was dramatic.

Synonyms

• Outline: The line that defines the outermost shape of something.
• Profile: An outline of something, especially a face, as seen from the side.
• Shadow: A dark area or shape produced by an object coming between light and a surface.

Related Phrases

• To be silhouetted against: To appear as a dark shape in front of a brighter background.
  • The birds were silhouetted against the setting sun.

Noun

1. a drawing of the outline of an object; filled in with some uniform color
2. an outline of a solid object (as cast by its shadow)

Verb

1. represent by a silhouette
2. project on a background, such as a screen, like a silhouette