詞彙精選：illustration的用法和辨析大綱
一、詳細釋義：
n.
插圖 [C]
例句：
The colored illustrations in that book are most attractive.
那本書裏的彩色插圖非常吸引人。
例句：
Illustration of a difficult idea is often effective in lectures.
講課時用插圖來說明某個難懂的概念往往是行之有效的。
圖解 [U]
例句：
He used photographs as illustrations for his talk.
他用照片爲他的演講作圖解。
例句：
The illustration had too much redundant detail.
圖解中不必要的細節太多。
說明；例證 [U,C]
例句：
A rock falling to the ground is an illustration of gravity.
石塊落地是地球引力的一個實例。
例句：
Illustration by example is better than explanation in words.
用實例說明比用詞語解釋清楚。
二、詞義辨析：
example,instance,case,sample,illustration,specimen
這些名詞均有“例子、事例”之意。example普通用詞，指能代表同類事物性質或一般規律的典型例子。instance多指用於說明、支持或反證一般事實或理論的事例。case多指需要加以認真研究的實例，如病例，案例等。sample通常指樣品。illustration指用來說明、解釋某種理論或看法而引用的例證。specimen可與sample換用，但常指人或物中選出的有代表性部分，或指供科研、化驗或檢驗用的標本。
三、詞義辨析：
drawing,illustration,cartoon,diagram,picture,sketch,painting,portrait
這些名詞都表示“畫，圖”之意。drawing指用線條或色彩繪成的圖畫。illustration指插入書頁之間幫助說明的任何插圖或圖解。cartoon指幽默或諷刺性漫畫。diagram多指科技書籍或文獻中具有概括解說作用的圖表、圖樣或略圖。picture指廣義的“圖畫”，現多用來指相片、畫像。sketch通常指只畫出物體主要特徵的圖畫。painting指着色的畫。portrait指肖像，只用於指人。
四、參考例句：
As an illustration, consider the following example.
作爲說明，考慮下面的示例。
The marginal illustration is very interesting.
頁邊的插圖很有趣。
The illustration had too much redundant detail.
圖解中不必要的細節太多。
He used photographs as illustration for his talk.
他用照片爲他的演講作圖片說明。
Illustration by example is better than explanation in words.
用實例說明比用詞語解釋清楚。
We may use the illustration of making artificial flowers.
我們可以用人造的假花作例證。
Illustration of a difficult idea is often effective in lectures.
講課時用插圖來說明某個難懂的概念往往是行之有效的。
This illustration shows a section through the timber.
本圖所示爲木材的縱剖面。
Many zines tend to rely on comics, illustration, and collage.
不少雜誌往往依靠漫畫、插圖、拼貼。
This illustration shows a vertical section through the locust.
本圖所示爲蝗蟲的縱剖面。
