Definition of picture
1 : a design or representation made by various means (such as painting, drawing, or photography)
2a : 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 happeningb : a mental image
3 : image, copy he was the picture of his father she was the very picture of health
4a : a transitory visible image or reproductionb : motion picturec pictures plural : movies
5 : tableau 2
6 : situation took a hard look at his financial picture
People Are Reading
Examples of picture in a Sentence
I hung the picture on the wall.
The book has a lot of pictures.
Draw a picture of your house.
The staff looked at the financial picture of the company.
The overall economic picture is improving.
Origin and Etymology of picture
Middle English, from Latin pictura, from pictus, past participle of pingere to paint — more at paint
picture
Definition of picture
pictured
;picturing
play \ˈpik-chə-riŋ, ˈpik-shriŋ\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
Examples of picture in a Sentence
I can still picture the house I grew up in.
I can't picture changing jobs at this point in my life.
Picture what it would be like if you didn't own a car.
Can you picture him as a teacher?
First Known Use of picture
15th century
PICTURE Defined for English Language Learners
picture
playDefinition of picture for English Language Learners
-
: 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
picture
Definition of picture for English Language Learners
-
: 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
PICTURE Defined for Kids
Definition of picture for Students
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
Definition of picture for Students
pictured
;picturing
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.
Learn More about picture
-
See words that rhyme with picture Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for picture Spanish Central: Translation of picture Nglish: Translation of picture for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of picture for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up picture? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!