pictorial

[ pik-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-ee-uhl ]
See synonyms for pictorial on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. pertaining to, expressed in, or of the nature of a picture.

  2. illustrated by or containing pictures: a pictorial history.

  1. of or relating to the art of painting and drawing pictures, the pictures themselves, or their makers: the pictorial masterpieces of the Renaissance.

  2. having or suggesting the visual appeal or imagery of a picture: a pictorial metaphor.

noun
  1. a periodical in which pictures constitute an important feature.

  2. a magazine feature that is primarily photographic.

Origin of pictorial

1
1640–50; <Latin pictōri(us) of painting (pic-, variant stem of pingere to paint + -tōrius-tory1) + -al1

Other words for pictorial

Other words from pictorial

  • pic·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • pic·to·ri·al·ness, noun
  • non·pic·to·ri·al, adjective
  • non·pic·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • sem·i·pic·to·ri·al, adjective
  • sem·i·pic·to·ri·al·ly, adverb
  • un·pic·to·ri·al, adjective
  • un·pic·to·ri·al·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pictorial in a sentence

  • As a matter of fact many more words are used pictorially than we are inclined to think.

    Criminal Psychology | Hans Gross

British Dictionary definitions for pictorial

pictorial

/ (pɪkˈtɔːrɪəl) /


adjective
  1. relating to, consisting of, or expressed by pictures

  2. (of books, newspapers, etc) containing pictures

  1. of or relating to painting or drawing

  2. (of language, style, etc) suggesting a picture; vivid; graphic

noun
    • a magazine, newspaper, etc, containing many pictures

    • (capital when part of a name): the Sunday Pictorial

Origin of pictorial

1
C17: from Late Latin pictōrius, from Latin pictor painter, from pingere to paint

Derived forms of pictorial

  • pictorially, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012