I. ˈpikchə(r), -ksh- noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin pictura, from pictus (past participle of pingere to paint) + -ura -ure — more at paint
1. obsolete
a. : the act, process, or art of painting : representation by painting
b. : pictorial representations
2.
a. : a representation (as of a person, landscape, building) on canvas, paper, or other surface produced by painting, drawing, engraving, or photography
old pictures of the family
pictures of the wedding
especially : such representation as a work of art
walls hung with pictures
picture dealer
b. obsolete : statue , model
3. : a description so vivid or graphic as to suggest a mental image or give an accurate idea of the thing described
he hath drawn my picture in his letter — Shakespeare
language, our most faithful and indispensable picture of human experience — Susanne K. Langer
horn and trumpet become parts of a musical picture
4.
a. : something that by its likeness vividly suggests some other thing : copy
the boy is the picture of his father
b. : a concrete embodiment of an abstraction : illustration , symbol
she was the very picture of grief
the picture of health
5.
a. : a transitory visible image or reproduction due to the working of physical laws or made by utilizing such laws (as with a lens)
adjusting the television set for a brighter picture
b. : motion picture
a Western picture
c. pictures plural , chiefly Britain : movies
have a few drinks with their friends, and a grill, and then perhaps the pictures — Nevil Shute
6. : a mental image
shocks of corn were dotted about in her mind pictures — Elizabeth M. Roberts
7. : a picturesque person or thing
the ship was really a picture with all her sails unfurled
8. : tableau 1
created a world with his words, and his fine image is never lost because of unnecessary stage pictures — Virginia B. Slaughter
9.
a. : a scene or a set of facts or circumstances immediately present to the attention : a field of observation
in all matters artistic, personal taste enters into the picture — John Gutman
b. : verbal or graphic presentation of a problem or situation
drew an alarming picture of the economic future
c. : pattern , configuration
need more details to understand the full picture
d. : situation
in the spring the employment picture will change
II. transitive verb
( pictured ; pictured ; picturing -chəriŋ, -sh(ə)r- ; pictures )
Etymology: Middle English picturen, from picture (I)
1.
a. : to paint or draw a representation, image, or visual conception of : form a likeness of on a surface : depict
pictured holding a banner aloft
b. : to show a picture of
the room they finished for him is pictured on this page — Kathryn Larson
c. : to present (as a narrative) in pictures or provide with pictures : illustrate
printing, airing, and picturing the news — F.L.Mott
2. : to represent (something abstract or imperceptible) in visible or symbolic form : portray
illustrated his letters as he did, picturing what he couldn't put so well into words — J.K.Hutchens
3. : to describe graphically : describe vividly in words
likes to picture the triumph of well-born Nordics over the Canadian wilderness — Malcolm Cowley
4. : to form a mental image or definite impression of : imagine
the children … were picturing a beautiful, sad face, and the figure of a noble lady moving among her soldiers — Grace Kinnicut
5. : to photograph for showing as a motion picture
Synonyms: see represent