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View synonyms for picture

picture

[ pik-cher ]

noun

  1. a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, as a painting, drawing, photograph, etc.:

    I carry a picture of my grandchild in my wallet.

  2. any visible image, however produced:

    pictures reflected in a pool of water.

  3. a mental image:

    a clear picture of how he had looked that day.

  4. a particular image or reality as portrayed in an account or description; depiction; version.
  5. a tableau, as in theatrical representation.
    1. a movie:

      He signed a three-picture deal to star in the new franchise.

    2. pictures, Older Use. movies collectively, as an art; cinema:

      So, you want to be in pictures?

  6. a person, thing, group, or scene regarded as resembling a work of pictorial art in beauty, fineness of appearance, etc.:

    She was a picture in her new blue dress.

  7. the image or perfect likeness of someone else:

    He is the picture of his father.

  8. a visible or concrete embodiment of some quality or condition:

    the picture of health.

  9. a situation or set of circumstances:

    the economic picture.

  10. the image on a computer monitor, the viewing screen of a television set, or a motion-picture screen.


verb (used with object)

, pic·tured, pic·tur·ing.
  1. to represent in a picture or pictorially, as by painting or drawing.

    Synonyms: represent, draw, paint, delineate

  2. to form a mental picture of; imagine:

    He couldn't picture himself doing such a thing.

  3. to depict in words; describe graphically:

    He pictured Rome so vividly that you half-believed you were there.

    Synonyms: represent, draw, paint, delineate

  4. to present or create as a setting; portray:

    His book pictured the world of the future.

picture

/ ˈpɪktʃə /

noun

    1. a visual representation of something, such as a person or scene, produced on a surface, as in a photograph, painting, etc
    2. ( as modifier ) pictorial

      picture gallery

      picture postcard

  1. a mental image or impression

    a clear picture of events

  2. a verbal description, esp one that is vivid
  3. a situation considered as an observable scene

    the political picture

  4. a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to another

    he was the picture of his father

  5. a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or quality

    the picture of despair

  6. a beautiful person or scene

    you'll look a picture

  7. a complete image on a television screen, comprising two interlaced fields
    1. a motion picture; film
    2. ( as modifier )

      picture theatre

  8. the pictures
    the pictures a cinema or film show
  9. another name for tableau vivant
  10. get the picture informal.
    get the picture to understand a situation
  11. in the picture
    in the picture informed about a given situation


verb

  1. to visualize or imagine
  2. to describe or depict, esp vividly
  3. often passive to put in a picture or make a picture of

    they were pictured sitting on the rocks

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Other Words From

  • pic·tur·a·ble adjective
  • pic·tur·a·ble·ness noun
  • pic·tur·a·bly adverb
  • pic·tur·er noun
  • mis·pic·ture verb (used with object) mispictured mispicturing
  • self-pic·tured adjective
  • un·pic·tured adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of picture1

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin pictūra “the act of painting, a painting,” equivalent to pict(us) (past participle of pingere “to paint” ) + -ūra noun suffix; paint, -ure

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Word History and Origins

Origin of picture1

C15: from Latin pictūra painting, from pingere to paint

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Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the idiom beginning with picture , also see get the message (picture) ; in the picture ; pretty as a picture ; take a picture ; the picture .

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Example Sentences

The same picture emerges from middle class men in the U.S., Canada, and the Nordic countries.

That was accomplished by cops such as the one whose picture was clutched so tightly by his widow on Sunday.

There is just no way of selling this picture with an innocent defense like, “she just asked for a snap.”

I noticed a picture of her daughter, who was my classmate, and out of curiosity visited her page.

We want to give the families and the other cops, too, as clear a picture as we can.

She looked from the picture to her daughter, with a frightful glare, in their before mild aspect.

Each picture bore a label, giving a true description of the once-honoured gem.

And sure enough when Sunday came, and the pencil was restored to him, he promptly showed nurse his picture.

Mr. Agnew saw the picture, recognised its merit, and wrote a cheque for the full amount asked.

A furious controversy concerning this picture had arisen among art critics.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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