silhouette
/ˌsɪluˈɛt/
EN
The dark outline of a person, object or shape seen against a lighter background; also refers to a portrait consisting of a solid dark shape on a light background.
We saw the silhouette of a deer against the full moon.
Etymology
Derived from the name of Étienne de Silhouette, an 18th-century French finance minister. The term came to be used for these simple, cheap shadow portraits after his name became associated with anything cheap or done on a small budget.
Translations
简体中文
轮廓,剪影
繁體中文
輪廓,剪影
日本語
シルエット,輪郭
한국어
실루엣,윤곽
Deutsch
Silhouette,Kontur
Español
silueta,contorno
Português
silhueta,contorno
Français
Català
silueta
Tiếng Việt
hình bóng,đường nét
Collocations
dark silhouettesharp silhouettesilhouette againstblack silhouettebody silhouette
Synonyms
outlinecontourprofileshadow
Antonyms
clear imagefilled shapedetailed view
Related Words
shadowoutlinecontourprofileportrait