giving a clear and effective picture; vivid: a graphic account of an earthquake.
2.
pertaining to the use of diagrams, graphs, mathematical curves, or the like; diagrammatic.
3.
of, pertaining to, or expressed by writing: graphic symbols.
4.
written, inscribed, or drawn.
5.
depicted in a realistic or vivid manner: graphic sex and violence.
6.
containing graphic descriptions: a graphic movie.
7.
Geology. (of a rock) having a texture formed by the intergrowth of certain minerals so as to resemble written characters.
8.
Mathematics. pertaining to the determination of values, solution of problems, etc., by direct measurement on diagrams instead of by ordinary calculations.
9.
of or pertaining to the graphic arts.
–noun
10.
a product of the graphic arts, as a drawing or print.
11.
a computer-generated image.
[Origin: 1630–40; < L graphicus of painting or drawing < Gk graphikós able to draw or paint, equiv. to gráph(ein) to draw, write + -ikos-ic; c. carve]
—Related forms
graph·i·cal·ly, adverb
graph·i·cal·ness, graph·ic·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. striking, telling; detailed. See picturesque.
Of, relating to, or represented by or as if by a graph.
Described in vivid detail.
Clearly outlined or set forth.
Of or relating to the graphic arts.
Of or relating to graphics.
Geology Having crystals resembling printed characters.
n.
A work of graphic art.
A pictorial device used for illustration, as in a lecture.
A graphic display generated by a computer or an imaging device.
[Latin graphicus, from Greek graphikos, from graphē, writing, from graphein, to write; see gerbh- in Indo-European roots.]
graph'i·cal·ly adv., graph'ic·ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean strikingly sharp and accurate: a graphic account of the battle; a lifelike portrait; a realistic description; a vivid recollection.
1610, "traced" (implied in graphical), from L. graphicus "picturesque," from Gk. graphikos "of or for writing, belonging to drawing, picturesque," from graphe "writing, drawing," from graphein "write," originally "to scratch" on clay tablets with a stylus. Meaning "of or pertaining to drawing" is from 1756; that of "vivid" is from 1669, on the notion of words that produce the effect of a picture.
An"a*gram\, n. [F. anagramme, LL. anagramma, fr. Gr. ? back, again + ? to write. See Graphic.] Literally, the letters of a word read backwards, but in its usual wider sense, the change or one word or phrase into another by the transposition of its letters. Thus Galenus becomes angelus; William Noy (attorney-general to Charles I., and a laborious man) may be turned into I moyl in law.
Bi*og"ra*phy\, n.; pl. Biographies. [Gr. ?; ? life + ? to write: cf. F. biographie. See Graphic.]1. The written history of a person's life. 2. Biographical writings in general.
Carve\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Carved; p. pr. & vb. n. Carving.] [AS. ceorfan to cut, carve; akin to D. kerven, G. kerben, Dan. karve, Sw. karfva, and to Gr. ? to write, orig. to scatch, and E. -graphy. Cf. Graphic.]1. To cut. [Obs.] Or they will carven the shepherd's throat. --Spenser. 2. To cut, as wood, stone, or other material, in an artistic or decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave. Carved with figures strange and sweet. --Coleridge. 3. To make or shape by cutting, sculpturing, or engraving; to form; as, to carve a name on a tree. An angel carved in stone. --Tennyson. We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone. --C. Wolfe. 4. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat at table; to divide for distribution or apportionment; to apportion. "To carve a capon." --Shak. 5. To cut: to hew; to mark as if by cutting. My good blade carved the casques of men. --Tennyson. A million wrinkles carved his skin. --Tennyson. 6. To take or make, as by cutting; to provide. Who could easily have carved themselves their own food. --South. 7. To lay out; to contrive; to design; to plan. Lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet. --Shak. To carve out, to make or get by cutting, or as if by cutting; to cut out. "[Macbeth] with his brandished steel . . . carved out his passage." --Shak. Fortunes were carved out of the property of the crown. --Macaulay.
Di"a*gram\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. ? to mark out by lines; dia` through + ? to draw, write: cf. F. diagramme. See Graphic.]1. (Geom.) A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or facilitate a demonstration; a plan. 2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes, or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one. Indicator diagram. (Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator
Ep"i*gram\, n. [L. epigramma, fr. Gr. ? inscription, epigram, fr. ? to write upon, 'epi` upon + ? to write: cf. F. ['e]pigramme. See Graphic.]1. A short poem treating concisely and pointedly of a single thought or event. The modern epigram is so contrived as to surprise the reader with a witticism or ingenious turn of thought, and is often satirical in character. Dost thou think I care for a satire or an epigram? --Shak. Note: Epigrams were originally inscription on tombs, statues, temples, triumphal arches, etc. 2. An effusion of wit; a bright thought tersely and sharply expressed, whether in verse or prose. 3. The style of the epigram. Antithesis, i. e., bilateral stroke, is the soul of epigram in its later and technical signification. --B. Cracroft.
Ge*og"ra*phy\, n.; pl. Geographies. [F. g['e]ographie, l. geographia, fr. Gr. ?; ge`a, gh^, the earth + ? description, fr. ? to write, describe. See Graphic.]1. The science which treats of the world and its inhabitants; a description of the earth, or a portion of the earth, including its structure, fetures, products, political divisions, and the people by whom it is inhabited. 2. A treatise on this science. Astronomical, or Mathematical, geography treats of the earth as a planet, of its shape, its size, its lines of latitude and longitude, its zones, and the phenomena due to to the earth's diurnal and annual motions. Physical geography treats of the conformation of the earth's surface, of the distribution of land and water, of minerals, plants, animals, etc., and applies the principles of physics to the explanation of the diversities of climate, productions, etc. Political geography treats of the different countries into which earth is divided with regard to political and social and institutions and conditions.
Graft\, n. [OE. graff, F. greffe, originally the same word as OF. grafe pencil, L. graphium, Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to write; prob. akin to E. carve. So named from the resemblance of a scion or shoot to a pointed pencil. Cf. Graphic, Grammar.] (a) A small shoot or scion of a tree inserted in another tree, the stock of which is to support and nourish it. The two unite and become one tree, but the graft determines the kind of fruit. (b) A branch or portion of a tree growing from such a shoot. (c) (Surg.) A portion of living tissue used in the operation of autoplasty.
Gram"mar\, n. [OE. gramere, OF. gramaire, F. grammaire Prob. fr. L. gramatica Gr ?, fem. of ? skilled in grammar, fr. ? letter. See Gramme, Graphic, and cf. Grammatical, Gramarye.]1. The science which treats of the principles of language; the study of forms of speech, and their relations to one another; the art concerned with the right use aud application of the rules of a language, in speaking or writing. Note: The whole fabric of grammar rests upon the classifying of words according to their function in the sentence. --Bain. 2. The art of speaking or writing with correctness or according to established usage; speech considered with regard to the rules of a grammar. The original bad grammar and bad spelling. --Macaulay. 3. A treatise on the principles of language; a book containing the principles and rules for correctness in speaking or writing. 4. treatise on the elements or principles of any science; as, a grammar of geography. Comparative grammar, the science which determines the relations of kindred languages by examining and comparing their grammatical forms. Grammar school. (a) A school, usually endowed, in which Latin and Greek grammar are taught, as also other studies preparatory to colleges or universities; as, the famous Rugby Grammar School. This use of the word is more common in England than in the United States. When any town shall increase to the number of a hundred families or householders, they shall set up a grammar school, the master thereof being able to instruct youth so far as they may be fitted for the University. --Mass. Records (1647). (b) In the American system of graded common schools an intermediate grade between the primary school and the high school, in which the principles of English grammar are taught.
-graph\ (-gr[.a]f) [From Gr. gra`fein to write. See Graphic.] A suffix signifying something written, a writing; also, a writer; as autograph, crystograph, telegraph, photograph. Graphic \Graph"ic\ (gr[a^]f"[i^]k), Graphical \Graph"ic*al\ (-[i^]*kal), a. [L. graphicus, Gr. grafiko`s, fr. gra`fein to write; cf. F. graphique. See Graft.]1. Of or pertaining to the arts of painting and drawing. 2. Of or pertaining to the art of writing. 3. Written or engraved; formed of letters or lines. The finger of God hath left an inscription upon all his works, not graphical, or composed of letters. --Sir T. Browne. 4. Well delineated; clearly and vividly described. 5. Having the faculty of, or characterized by, clear and impressive description; vivid; as, a graphic writer. Graphic algebra, a branch of algebra in which, the properties of equations are treated by the use of curves and straight lines. Graphic arts, a name given to those fine arts which pertain to the representation on a fiat surface of natural objects; as distinguished from music, etc., and also from sculpture. Graphic formula. (Chem.) See under Formula. Graphic granite. See under Granite. Graphic method, the method of scientific analysis or investigation, in which the relations or laws involved in tabular numbers are represented to the eye by means of curves or other figures; as the daily changes of weather by means of curves, the abscissas of which represent the hours of the day, and the ordinates the corresponding degrees of temperature. Graphical statics (Math.), a branch of statics, in which the magnitude, direction, and position of forces are represented by straight lines Graphic tellurium. See Sylvanite.>
Graph"ite\, n. [Gr. gra`fein to write: cf. F. graphite. See Graphic.] (Min.) Native carbon in hexagonal crystals, also foliated or granular massive, of black color and metallic luster, and so soft as to leave a trace on paper. It is used for pencils (improperly called lead pencils), for crucibles, and as a lubricator, etc. Often called plumbago or black lead. Graphite battery (Elec.), a voltaic battery consisting of zinc and carbon in sulphuric acid, or other exciting liquid.
-gra*phy\ [Gr. ?, fr. ? write. See Graphic.] A suffix denoting the art of writing or describing; also, the writing or description itself; a treatise; as, calligraphy, biography, geography.
Mon"o*gram\, n. [L. monogramma; Gr. ? single + ? letter, fr. ? to write: cf. F. monogramme. See Graphic.]1. A character or cipher composed of two or more letters interwoven or combined so as to represent a name, or a part of it (usually the initials). Monograms are often used on seals, ornamental pins, rings, buttons, and by painters, engravers, etc., to distinguish their works. Monogram. Note: The monogram above, combining the letters of the name Karolvs, was used by Charlemagne. 2. A picture in lines; a sketch. [R.] 3. An arbitrary sign for a word. [R.]
Or*thog"ra*phy\, n. [OE. ortographie, OF. orthographie, L. orthographia, Gr. ?, fr. ? writing correctly; 'orqo`s right + gra`fein to write. See Ortho-, and Graphic.]1. The art or practice of writing words with the proper letters, according to standard usage; conventionally correct spelling; also, mode of spelling; as, his orthography is vicious. When spelling no longer follows the pronunciation, but is hardened into orthography. --Earle. 2. The part of grammar which treats of the letters, and of the art of spelling words correctly. 3. A drawing in correct projection, especially an elevation or a vertical section.
Par"a*graph\, n. [F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. para`grafos (sc. grammh`) a line or stroke drawn in the margin, fr. paragra`fein to write beside; para` beside + gra`fein to write. See Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.]1. Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character [para], commonly used in the text as a reference mark to a footnote, or to indicate the place of a division into sections. Note: This character is merely a modification of a capital P (the initial of the word paragraph), the letter being reversed, and the black part made white and the white part black for the sake of distinctiveness. 2. A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark ?, but usually, by beginning the first sentence of the paragraph on a new line and at more than the usual distance from the margin. 3. A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.
Pro"gramme\, n. [L. programma a public proclamation, manifesto, Gr. ?, fr. ? to write before or in public; ? before, forth + ? to write; cf. F. programme. See Graphic.] That which is written or printed as a public notice or advertisement; a scheme; a prospectus; especially, a brief outline or explanation of the order to be pursued, or the subjects embraced, in any public exercise, performance, or entertainment; a preliminary sketch. Programme music (Mus.), descriptive instrumental music which requires an argument or programme to explain the meaning of its several movements.
Tel"e*graph\, n. [Gr. ? far, far off (cf. Lith. toli) + -graph: cf. F. t['e]l['e]graphe. See Graphic.] An apparatus, or a process, for communicating intelligence rapidly between distant points, especially by means of preconcerted visible or audible signals representing words or ideas, or by means of words and signs, transmitted by electrical action. Note: The instruments used are classed as indicator, type-printing, symbol-printing, or chemical-printing telegraphs, according as the intelligence is given by the movements of a pointer or indicator, as in Cooke & Wheatstone's (the form commonly used in England), or by impressing, on a fillet of paper, letters from types, as in House's and Hughe's, or dots and marks from a sharp point moved by a magnet, as in Morse's, or symbols produced by electro-chemical action, as in Bain's. In the offices in the United States the recording instrument is now little used, the receiving operator reading by ear the combinations of long and short intervals of sound produced by the armature of an electro-magnet as it is put in motion by the opening and breaking of the circuit, which motion, in registering instruments, traces upon a ribbon of paper the lines and dots used to represent the letters of the alphabet. See Illustration in Appendix. Acoustic telegraph. See under Acoustic. Dial telegraph, a telegraph in which letters of the alphabet and numbers or other symbols are placed upon the border of a circular dial plate at each station, the apparatus being so arranged that the needle or index of the dial at the receiving station accurately copies the movements of that at the sending station. Electric telegraph, or Electro-magnetic telegraph, a telegraph in which an operator at one station causes words or signs to be made at another by means of a current of electricity, generated by a battery and transmitted over an intervening wire. Facsimile telegraph. See under Facsimile. Indicator telegraph. See under Indicator. Pan-telegraph, an electric telegraph by means of which a drawing or writing, as an autographic message, may be exactly reproduced at a distant station. Printing telegraph, an electric telegraph which automatically prints the message as it is received at a distant station, in letters, not signs. Signal telegraph, a telegraph in which preconcerted signals, made by a machine, or otherwise, at one station, are seen or heard and interpreted at another; a semaphore. Submarine telegraph cable, a telegraph cable laid under water to connect stations separated by a body of water. Telegraph cable, a telegraphic cable consisting of several conducting wires, inclosed by an insulating and protecting material, so as to bring the wires into compact compass for use on poles, or to form a strong cable impervious to water, to be laid under ground, as in a town or city, or under water, as in the ocean. Telegraph plant (Bot.), a leguminous plant (Desmodium gyrans) native of the East Indies. The leaflets move up and down like the signals of a semaphore.
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