/ ˈpɔːtreɪt; -trət; NAmE ˈpɔːrtrət/ noun , adjective
■ noun
1.
a painting, drawing or photograph of a person, especially of the head and shoulders :
He had his portrait painted in uniform.
a full-length portrait
a portrait painter
—see also self-portrait ➡ note at photograph , picture
2.
a detailed description of sb/sth
SYN depiction :
a portrait of life at the French court
■ adjective
( computing ) ( of a page of a document ) printed so that the top of the page is one of the shorter sides
—picture at printout
—compare landscape
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French , past participle (used as a noun) of Old French portraire portray.