law of closure
- noun
- /lɔː ʌv ˈkloʊʒər/
- Specialized
:
ley de cierre
- When observing a dotted circle, the law of closure leads us to perceive it as a whole.
Examples
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When observing a dotted circle, the law of closure helps us see it as a complete object by mentally filling in the missing segments.
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Designers often rely on the law of closure to create visually appealing graphics that suggest rather than depict full shapes.
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The law of closure explains why we see a complete shape even when parts are missing.
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The law of closure explains how we see shapes.
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According to the law of closure, our brains fill in missing parts.
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Designers often rely on the law of closure to create visually appealing graphics that suggest rather than depict full shapes.
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The law of closure explains why we perceive an incomplete figure as a complete shape when gaps are present.
Synonyms
1
6.9
The mind's way of seeing a whole shape when parts are missing
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'law' (a general principle) combined with 'closure' (the perceptual tendency) yields a rule or principle governing closure. The 'law of X' construction is a standard, cross-linguistically common pattern and involves no idiomatic shift, so a learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.
Etymology
Law of closure comes from psychology and gives a simple picture: when we see parts missing, our minds 'close' the gaps and make a whole shape. That's why the phrase means we tend to see incomplete figures as complete.