anamorphosis
/ˌæn.ə.mɔːˈfəʊ.sɪs/ IELTSAcademic
noun
An image or shape that looks distorted until you view it from a special angle or with a special mirror. It is often used in art and science.
- The painting was an anamorphosis on the museum wall.
- You can see the full image only from one angle.
- The artist created an anamorphosis with paint and mirrors.
Adinary Nuance
Anamorphosis is more specific than distortion. Distortion means something is misshapen or changed badly, but anamorphosis is a planned effect. It is also different from illusion, because the strange shape has a real hidden image in it.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ảnh méo phối cảnh
- Spanish
- anamorfosis
- Chinese
- 变形图像
- Japanese
- 歪像
- Korean
- 왜상
Etymology
From Greek anamorphōsis, meaning 'a shaping again' or 'a forming anew'. It entered English through art and scientific writing in the 17th century.
Common phrases
anamorphosis arta visual anamorphosisviewed by anamorphosis
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is anamorphosis a common word?
- No, it is uncommon. You will mostly see it in art, design, and academic writing.
- What is the difference between anamorphosis and distortion?
- Distortion is any changed or misshapen form. Anamorphosis is a deliberate distortion that makes a hidden image appear from one angle.
- Can I use anamorphosis in everyday English?
- Usually no. Most people would say 'distorted image' or 'optical illusion' instead.