silhouette

noun

/ˌsɪluˈet/

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[countable, uncountable] the dark outline or shape of a person or an object that you see against a light background
- the silhouette of chimneys and towers
- The trees were black silhouettes against the pale sky.
- in silhouette The mountains stood out in silhouette.
Extra Examples
- I could see its black silhouette against the evening sky.
- Through the fog, the silhouette of buildings appeared along the shore.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- black
- dark
- stark
- …
verb + silhouette
- see
preposition
- in silhouette
- silhouette against
See full entry
[countable] the shape of a person’s body or of an object
- The dress is fitted to give you a flattering silhouette.
[countable] a picture that shows somebody/something as a black shape against a light background, especially one that shows the side view of a person’s faceTopics Artc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- black
- dark
- stark
- …
verb + silhouette
- see
preposition
- in silhouette
- silhouette against
See full entry

Word Originlate 18th cent.: named (although the reason remains obscure) after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French author and politician.

verb

/ˌsɪluˈet/

[usually passive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they silhouette	/ˌsɪluˈet/ /ˌsɪluˈet/
he / she / it silhouettes	/ˌsɪluˈets/ /ˌsɪluˈets/
past simple silhouetted	/ˌsɪluˈetɪd/ /ˌsɪluˈetɪd/
past participle silhouetted	/ˌsɪluˈetɪd/ /ˌsɪluˈetɪd/
-ing form silhouetting	/ˌsɪluˈetɪŋ/ /ˌsɪluˈetɪŋ/

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to make something appear as a silhouette
- be silhouetted (against something) A figure stood in the doorway, silhouetted against the light.
- The castle was silhouetted against the sky.
Word Originlate 18th cent.: named (although the reason remains obscure) after Étienne de Silhouette (1709–67), French author and politician.