illusion
Definitions
A false perception; something that looks real to the senses but is not.
错觉，幻觉；看似真实却并非如此的事物。
A mistaken belief or false hope held about something.
（对某事物的）错误观念，幻想。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedil- (at, on) + lus (play) + -ion (act/result) = 'a playing aimed at your senses.' Latin illudere meant to mock or play tricks on someone; when the trick is aimed at perception, what you see isn't real. An optical illusion fools the eye; a comforting illusion fools the mind. Note the d→s spelling: the verb stem is -lud-, this noun takes the past-participle stem -lus-.
Root lud still carries 22 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.optical illusion视觉错觉
- 2.create an illusion营造幻象
- 3.under the illusion that误以为，抱着……的幻想
- 4.shatter an illusion打破幻想
Example Sentences
- 1.
The mirror creates the illusion of a much larger room.
- 2.
He still clings to the illusion that she will come back.
- 3.
The magician's whole act is built on clever illusions.
- 4.
Their wealth was an illusion; the company was deep in debt.
Easily Confused
illusion vs delusion — an illusion is a false perception that may be harmless or even shared (an optical illusion, the illusion of depth in a painting); a delusion is a false belief firmly held by one person against all evidence, often clinical (delusions of grandeur). You enjoy an illusion; you suffer from a delusion.