picture
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.
any visible image, however produced: pictures reflected in a pool of water.
a mental image: a clear picture of how he had looked that day.
a particular image or reality as portrayed in an account or description; depiction; version.
a tableau, as in theatrical representation.
a movie: He signed a three-picture deal to star in the new franchise.
pictures, Older Use. movies collectively, as an art; cinema: So, you want to be in pictures?
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.
the image or perfect likeness of someone else: He is the picture of his father.
a visible or concrete embodiment of some quality or condition: the picture of health.
a situation or set of circumstances: the economic picture.
the image on a computer monitor, the viewing screen of a television set, or a motion-picture screen.
to represent in a picture or pictorially, as by painting or drawing.
to form a mental picture of; imagine: He couldn't picture himself doing such a thing.
to depict in words; describe graphically: He pictured Rome so vividly that you half-believed you were there.
to present or create as a setting; portray: His book pictured the world of the future.
Origin of picture
1Other words for picture
Other words from picture
- 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), mis·pic·tured, mis·pic·tur·ing.
- self-pic·tured, adjective
- un·pic·tured, adjective
Words that may be confused with picture
- picture , pitcher
Words Nearby picture
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use picture in a sentence
Exclude the blue states, and the economic picture shifts dramatically.
An only-red-states America probably isn’t one Trump would actually like | Philip Bump | September 17, 2020 | Washington PostHowever, a complete picture of their clinical effect remains unclear.
The ‘inactive' ingredients in your pills could harm you | By Yelena Ionova/The Conversation | September 15, 2020 | Popular-ScienceIt also seems like the legacy of the Olympic Games is completely left out of the picture.
Smith shared a picture of him setting next to Hubert—a monumental occasion considering the two hadn’t sat down with each other in 27 years.
‘Full Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’ Cast Reunites To Celebrate The Show’s 30th Anniversary | Hope Wright | September 11, 2020 | Essence.comThose pictures can really boost your memory of this material.
Top 10 tips on how to study smarter, not longer | Kathiann Kowalski | September 9, 2020 | Science News For Students
The same picture emerges from middle class men in the U.S., Canada, and the Nordic countries.
How Good Dads Can Change the World | Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThat 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.”
Buckingham Palace Disputes Sex Allegations Against Prince ‘Randy Andy’ | Tom Sykes | January 4, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTI noticed a picture of her daughter, who was my classmate, and out of curiosity visited her page.
50 Shades of Iran: The Mullahs’ Kinky Fantasies about Sex in the West | IranWire, Shima Sharabi | January 1, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe 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.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterEach picture bore a label, giving a true description of the once-honoured gem.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James WillsAnd sure enough when Sunday came, and the pencil was restored to him, he promptly showed nurse his picture.
Children's Ways | James SullyMr. 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.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
British Dictionary definitions for picture
/ (ˈpɪktʃə) /
a visual representation of something, such as a person or scene, produced on a surface, as in a photograph, painting, etc
(as modifier): picture gallery; picture postcard Related adjective: pictorial
a mental image or impression: a clear picture of events
a verbal description, esp one that is vivid
a situation considered as an observable scene: the political picture
a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to another: he was the picture of his father
a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or quality: the picture of despair
a beautiful person or scene: you'll look a picture
a complete image on a television screen, comprising two interlaced fields
a motion picture; film
(as modifier): picture theatre
the pictures mainly British and Australian a cinema or film show
another name for tableau vivant
get the picture informal to understand a situation
in the picture informed about a given situation
to visualize or imagine
to describe or depict, esp vividly
(often passive) to put in a picture or make a picture of: they were pictured sitting on the rocks
Origin of picture
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with picture
In addition to the idiom beginning with picture
- picture is worth a thousand words, one
also see:
- get the message (picture)
- in the picture
- pretty as a picture
- take a picture
- the picture
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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