First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1picture
noun pic·ture \ˈpik-chər\
: a painting, drawing, or photograph of someone or something
: an idea of how something or someone looks, of what something is like, etc.
: a general situation
Full Definition of PICTURE
1
: a design or representation made by various means (as painting, drawing, or photography)
2
a : a description so vivid or graphic as to suggest a mental image or give an accurate idea of something <the book gives a detailed picture of what is happening> b : a mental image
4
5
: tableau 2
6
: situation <took a hard look at his financial picture>
See picture defined for English-language learners
See picture defined for kids
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Origin of PICTURE
Middle English, from Latin pictura, from pictus, past participle of pingere to paint — more at paint
Related to PICTURE
- Synonyms
- icon (also ikon), illustration, image, likeness
Rhymes with PICTURE
2picture
verb
: to have a thought, understanding, or idea about (something or someone)
: to show or represent (someone or something) in a painting, drawing, or photograph
: to describe (something or someone) in a particular way
pic·turedpic·tur·ing \ˈpik-chə-riŋ, ˈpik-shriŋ\
Full Definition of PICTURE
transitive verb
1
: to paint or draw a representation, image, or visual conception of : depict; also : illustrate
2
: to describe graphically in words
3
: to form a mental image of : imagine
See picture defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of PICTURE
15th century
PICTURE Defined for Kids
1picture
noun pic·ture \ˈpik-chər\
Definition of PICTURE for Kids
1
: an image of something or someone formed on a surface (as by drawing, painting, printing, or photography)
2
: an idea of what someone or something might look like or be like <The book gives a picture of frontier life.>
3
: a perfect example of something <She is the picture of health.>
4
: movie 1
5
: an image on the screen of a television set
2picture
verb
pic·turedpic·tur·ing
Definition of PICTURE for Kids
1
: to show or represent in a drawing, painting, or photograph <The artist pictured her leaning on a fence.>
2
: to form an idea or mental image of : imagine <I can't picture myself skiing.>
3
: to describe in a particular way <The story pictured him as a gentle person.>
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