noun / verb
silhouette
sil-oo-ET/ˌsɪluˈet/
A dark shape against a lighter background, or showing something this way.
The tree's silhouette stands out against the pale evening sky.
Etymology
Silhouette’s name was applied to black profile portraits, usually explained as mockery of his austere economies. The term then broadened from these spare portraits to any dark outline against a lighter background.
In context
the silhouette is the shape that you see as a whole. You know, if everything is filled in with one color, you could do it with black marker, whatever.
More examples
- Bright headlights silhouette the people crossing the road.
- Two silhouettes appear in the brightly lit doorway.
- The mountains are silhouetted against the sunrise.
Forms
silhouette · silhouettes · silhouetted · silhouetting