nounplural noun trompe l'oeils/ˌtrômp ˈloi/ /ˌtrɔmp ˈlɔɪ/

• 1Visual illusion in art, especially as used to trick the eye into perceiving a painted detail as a three-dimensional object.

  ‘look at the pillars and arches around the immense dome—they are trompe l'œil’

  More example sentences

  • ‘his love of classical trompe l'œil is sometimes a little precious’
  • ‘trompe l'œil architectural details’
  • ‘trompe l'œil marble’

  1. 1.1A painting or design intended to create the illusion of a three-dimensional object.
     More example sentences

     • ‘she climbed up to paint a trompe l'œil over the brackets as camouflage’