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illusion
(redirected from Illusions)

   Also found in: Medical, Legal, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.31 sec.
il·lu·sion  (-lzhn)
n.
1.
a. An erroneous perception of reality.
b. An erroneous concept or belief.
2. The condition of being deceived by a false perception or belief.
3. Something, such as a fantastic plan or desire, that causes an erroneous belief or perception.
4. Illusionism in art.
5. A fine transparent cloth, used for dresses or trimmings.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin illsi, illsin-, from Latin, a mocking, irony, from illsus, past participle of illdere, to mock : in-, against; see in-2 + ldere, to play; see leid- in Indo-European roots.]

il·lusion·al, il·lusion·ary (-zh-nr) adj.
il·lusion·less adj.
click for a larger image
illusion
top: In a Hering figure, straight horizontal rules appear curved.
bottom: In Gestalt theory boxes, a gray box against a black background appears lighter than the same gray box against a white background.

illusion
Noun
1. a false appearance or deceptive impression of reality: her upswept hair gave the illusion of above average height
2. a false or misleading idea or belief: we may suffer from the illusion that we are special [Latin illusio deceit]

Illusion of painters: group of painters, 15th century.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.illusionillusion - an erroneous mental representation
fantasm, phantasm, phantasma, phantom, shadow, apparition - something existing in perception only; "a ghostly apparition at midnight"
appearance - a mental representation; "I tried to describe his appearance to the police"
irradiation - the apparent enlargement of a bright object when viewed against a dark background
phantom limb - the illusion that a limb still exists after it has been amputated
2.illusionillusion - something many people believe that is false; "they have the illusion that I am very wealthy"
misconception - an incorrect conception
bubble - an impracticable and illusory idea; "he didn't want to burst the newcomer's bubble"
ignis fatuus, will-o'-the-wisp - an illusion that misleads
wishful thinking - the illusion that what you wish for is actually true
3.illusion - the act of deluding; deception by creating illusory ideas
dissimulation, deception, dissembling, deceit - the act of deceiving
4.illusionillusion - an illusory feat; considered magical by naive observers
performance - the act of presenting a play or a piece of music or other entertainment; "we congratulated him on his performance at the rehearsal"; "an inspired performance of Mozart's C minor concerto"
card trick - a trick performed with playing cards
prestidigitation, sleight of hand - manual dexterity in the execution of tricks

illusion
noun 1. delusion, misconception, misapprehension, fancy, deception, fallacy, self-deception, false impression, false belief, misbelief
noun 2. false impression, feeling, appearance, impression, fancy, deception, imitation, sham, pretence, semblance, fallacy << OPPOSITE reality
Translations
Spanish illusion [ɪˈluːʒən] nilusión f;
to be under the illusion that... → estar convencido de que ...

French illusion [ɪˈluːʒən] nillusion f;
to be under the illusion that → avoir l'illusion que

German illusion [ɪˈluːʒən] nIllusion f;
(trick) → (Zauber)trick m;
to be under the illusion that ... → sich dat einbilden, dass ...

Italian illusion [ɪˈluːʒən] nillusione f;
to be under the illusion that → avere l'impressione che

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