portrait

[pawr-trit, -treyt, pohr-]

noun

1. a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph.

   a gallery of family portraits.

2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person.

   a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

adjective

1. Digital Technology.,  relating to or producing vertical, upright orientation of computer or other digital output, with lines of data parallel to the two shorter sides of a page or screen. Compare landscape.

portrait

/ -treɪt, ˈpɔːtrɪt /

noun

1. 1. a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or other likeness of an individual, esp of the face

   2. ( as modifier )

      a portrait gallery

2. a verbal description or picture, esp of a person's character

adjective

1. printing (of a publication or an illustration in a publication) of greater height than width Compare landscape

Other Word Forms

• portraitlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portrait¹

1560–70; < Middle French: a drawing, image, etc., noun use of past participle of portraire to portray

Example Sentences

Sock Puppet City started back in 2006 selling portraits of puppets out of a New York City park and has evolved into a business that sells actual puppets and produces puppeteer-centric videos.

Read more on MarketWatch

There were cheers for the policeman on stage in a fat suit doing pelvic thrusts, and the woman in a leotard and tights shredding a portrait of Vladimir Putin.

Read more on BBC

"There was around 40 paparazzi outside my house every day," says Katona, and they weren't looking for flattering portraits.

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This portrait of the man is too affectionate to leave the reader much in doubt of the author’s feelings.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There are jump cuts too, and interludes of his actors in close-up that could be color screen tests or just a nod to Hujar’s aptitude for portraits.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account 
• characterization 
• depiction 
• figure 
• image 
• likeness 
• model 
• painting 
• photograph 
• picture 
• portrayal 
• profile 
• silhouette 
• sketch 
• snapshot 
• vignette