Orbison illusion

noun

An optical illusion consisting of a two-dimensional figure superimposed over a background of radial lines or concentric circles, resulting in apparent distortion of both the figure and its background.

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Meanings

nounOrbison illusion (plural Orbison illusions)

plural Orbison illusions

  1. An optical illusion consisting of a two-dimensional figure superimposed over a background of radial lines or concentric circles, resulting in apparent distortion of both the figure and its background.

Origin

First described in 1939 by American psychologist William Orbison.

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Cite this entry
APA

Orbison illusion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Orbison%20illusion

MLA

“Orbison illusion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Orbison%20illusion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Orbison illusion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Orbison%20illusion.

Source: Orbison illusion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.