picture

[ pik-cher ]

/ ˈpɪk tʃər /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR picture ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

motion picture.

pictures, Informal: Older Use. movies.

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.

verb (used with object), pic·tured, pic·tur·ing.

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.

QUIZZES

Fend Off Sciolism With This Word Of The Day Quiz

Are you the Cinderella of this week’s quiz? Test your memory on the words and definitions from March 23–29.

Question 1 of 7

schlep

to say or do hesitantly or awkwardly

to fold or wind around something

to carry; lug

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of picture

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin pictūra the act of painting, a painting, equivalent to pict(us) (past participle of pingere to paint) + -ūra -ure

SYNONYMS FOR picture

13, 15 delineate, paint, draw, represent.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR picture ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM picture

pic·tur·a·ble, adjectivepic·tur·a·ble·ness, nounpic·tur·a·bly, adverbpic·tur·er, noun

mis·pic·ture, verb (used with object), mis·pic·tured, mis·pic·tur·ing.self-pic·tured, adjectiveun·pic·tured, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH picture

picture pitcher

Words nearby picture

pictography, pictor, pictorial, pictorialism, pictorialize, picture, picture book, picture card, picture disc, picture hat, picture house

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for picturing

I doubt they are, but as a comedian, I find some comedy in picturing those two girls running the world as a power couple.
Kathy Griffin: I Would Never Have Dreamed of Outing Anderson Cooper|Kathy Griffin|July 3, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The same scale of destruction, and the same problem in picturing its true extent, holds true for West Virginia and Kentucky.
Chris Hedges and Joe Sacco Chronicle Mining Catastrophes in West Virginia|Chris Hedges, Joe Sacco|June 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Her sudden appearance, in the place where I was picturing you giving out your first text, made me jump nearly out of my skin.
The Following of the Star|Florence L. Barclay
"The poor little thing," said Anne, picturing one of her own dear babies, cold and hungry and alone in such circumstances.
Rainbow Valley|Lucy Maud Montgomery

In this array she awaited his coming, and pleased her mind with picturing his astonishment and the joy that would be his.
The Shaving of Shagpat, Complete|George Meredith
Seemingly Mr. Collyer was unconscious of the fact that, in describing Mr. Oliver, he was picturing himself.
Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great, Volume 11 (of 14)|Elbert Hubbard
Revolving many memories and picturing many scenes of bygone days, I traversed the deserted halls.
A Civil Servant in Burma|Herbert Thirkel White

British Dictionary definitions for picturing

picture

/ (ˈpɪktʃə) /

noun

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 impressiona clear picture of events

a verbal description, esp one that is vivid

a situation considered as an observable scenethe political picture

a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to anotherhe was the picture of his father

a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or qualitythe picture of despair

a beautiful person or sceneyou'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

verb (tr)

to visualize or imagine

to describe or depict, esp vividly

(often passive) to put in a picture or make a picture ofthey were pictured sitting on the rocks

Word Origin for picture

C15: from Latin pictūra painting, from pingere to paint

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

Idioms and Phrases with picturing

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

picture

noun

verb (used with object), pic·tured, pic·tur·ing.

QUIZZES

Origin of picture

SYNONYMS FOR picture

OTHER WORDS FROM picture

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH picture

Words nearby picture

Words related to picturing

Example sentences from the Web for picturing

British Dictionary definitions for picturing

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for picture

Idioms and Phrases with picturing