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to illustrate
To provide a book, text, or publication with pictures, drawings, or graphics in order to supplement or decorate the content.
Der Künstler wurde beauftragt, das neue Kinderbuch zu illustrieren.
The artist was commissioned to illustrate the new children’s book.
to illustrate
To explain something through examples, comparisons, or explanations and make it easier to understand.
Können Sie Ihre Theorie bitte an einem praktischen Beispiel illustrieren?
Could you please illustrate your theory with a practical example?
'Illustrieren' (to illustrate) is a typical verb ending in '-ieren' that comes from another language. These verbs are always regular in their conjugation and are never separable. The prefix always remains firmly attached to the verb.
Er illustriert gerade die Titelseite des Magazins.
He is currently illustrating the magazine’s cover page.
You can recognize the meaning of 'illustrieren' (to illustrate) from the object. If it refers to a medium such as a book or a text, it is about pictures (meaning 1). If it refers to an abstract concept such as a theory or a problem, it is about illustration through examples (meaning 2).
Sie illustriert ein Kinderbuch mit bunten Aquarellen.
She is illustrating a children’s book with colorful watercolors.
In the meaning 'mit Bildern versehen' (to provide with pictures), 'illustrieren' (to illustrate) is often used with creative or informational works. Typical combinations are: ein Buch illustrieren (to illustrate a book), eine Geschichte illustrieren (to illustrate a story), or einen wissenschaftlichen Artikel illustrieren (to illustrate a scientific article).
Ein berühmter Zeichner hat diese Ausgabe der Märchen illustriert.
A famous illustrator illustrated this edition of the fairy tales.
When something is illustrated through examples, the structure 'etwas mit etwas illustrieren' (to illustrate something with something) or 'etwas an einem Beispiel illustrieren' (to illustrate something using an example) often follows. The means of illustration is introduced with a preposition.
Die Lehrerin illustrierte die Grammatikregel mit vielen Beispielen.
The teacher illustrated the grammar rule with many examples.
to illustrate
Illustrieren and veranschaulichen can both make something easier to understand through examples, pictures, or explanations. Veranschaulichen emphasizes deliberately explaining something clearly; illustrieren can serve the same purpose but sounds more like providing additional evidence or illustration. Choose veranschaulichen when clarity is the focus and illustrieren for an additional presentation.
Die Grafik illustriert die Erklärung im Bericht mit einem einfachen Beispiel.
The graphic illustrates the explanation in the report with a simple example.
Der Lehrer veranschaulicht die Erklärung mit einem einfachen Beispiel.
The teacher illustrates the explanation with a simple example.
