picture writing

American  

noun

1. the art of recording events or expressing ideas by pictures, or pictorial symbols, as practiced by preliterate peoples.

2. pictorial symbols forming a record or communication.

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picture writing British  

noun

1. any writing system that uses pictographs

2. a system of artistic expression and communication using pictures or symbolic figures

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Etymology

Origin of picture writing

First recorded in 1735–45

Example Sentences

“I think people sometimes picture writing as a pretty glamorous job people,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

In it she writes, “Motion picture writing is as practical as plumbing, only the plums are bigger.”

From Los Angeles Times

You can try to read the picture writing on the walls.

From Literature

“No, that Martian picture writing, it wasn’t anything. Let it go!”

From Literature

Of course the Phœnicians brought the picture writing they had learned from the Egyptians with them.

From Project Gutenberg