Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense pictures, present participle picturing, past tense, past participle pictured
1. countable noun
A picture consists of lines and shapes which are drawn, painted, or printed on a surface and show a person, thing, or scene.
A picture of Rory O'Moore hangs in the dining room at Kildangan. [+ of]
...drawing a small picture with coloured chalks.
Synonyms: representation, drawing, painting, portrait More Synonyms of picture
2. countable noun
A picture is a photograph.
The tourists have nothing to do but take pictures of each other. [+ of]
The Observer carries a big front-page picture of rioters in a litter-strewn street.
3. countable noun [usually plural]
Television pictures are the scenes which you see on a television screen.
...heartrending television pictures of human suffering. [+ of]
4. verb [usually passive]
To be pictured somewhere, for example in a newspaper or magazine, means to appear in a photograph or picture.
The golfer is pictured on many of the front pages, kissing his trophy as he holdsit aloft. [beVERB-ed]
...a woman who claimed she had been pictured dancing with a celebrity in Stringfellowsnightclub. [beV-ed v-ing]
The rattan and wrought-iron chair pictured here costs £125. [VERB-ed]
5. countable noun
You can refer to a film as a picture.
Warner Communications Inc. has refused to distribute the picture in the United States.
...a director of epic action pictures.
Synonyms: film, movie [US, informal], flick [slang], feature film More Synonyms of picture
6. plural noun
If you go to the pictures, you go to a cinema to see a film.
[British, old-fashioned]
We're going to the pictures tonight.
I'd rather see it at the pictures than on TV anyway.
regional note: in AM, use the movies
7. countable noun
If you have a picture of something in your mind, you have a clear idea or memory of it in your mind as if you were actually seeing it.
They have in their mind a picture of what a police officer should look like.
We are just trying to get our picture of the whole afternoon straight. [+ of]
I tried to put the picture from my mind.
Synonyms: idea, vision, concept, impression More Synonyms of picture
8. verb
If you picture something in your mind, you think of it and have such a clear memory or idea of it that you seem to be able to see it.
He pictured her with long black braided hair. [VERB noun preposition]
I never would have pictured this as her home. [VERB noun preposition]
He pictured Claire sitting out in the car, waiting for him. [VERB noun verb-ing]
She pictured herself working with animals. [V n -ing]
I tried to picture the place, but could not. [VERB noun]
[Also V n adj]
Synonyms: imagine, see, envision, visualize More Synonyms of picture
9. countable noun [usually singular]
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
I'll try and give you a better picture of what the boys do. [+ of]
Her book paints a bleak picture of the problems women now face.
From the files that have now been released, a truer picture emerges.
Synonyms: description, impression, explanation, report More Synonyms of picture
10. singular noun
When you refer to the picture in a particular place, you are referring to the situation there.
But as with other charitable bodies, these figures mask the true picture.
It's a similar picture across the border in Ethiopia.
Synonyms: situation, case, set of circumstances, scenario More Synonyms of picture
11.
See get the picture
12.
See in the picture/out of the picture
13.
See a picture of sth/the picture of sth
14.
See put sb in the picture
More Synonyms of picture
picture in British English
(ˈpɪktʃə)
noun
1.
a.
a visual representation of something, such as a person or scene, produced on a surface, as in a photograph, painting, etc
b.
(as modifier)
picture gallery
picture postcard
▶ Related adjective: pictorial
2.
a mental image or impression
a clear picture of events
3.
a verbal description, esp one that is vivid
4.
a situation considered as an observable scene
the political picture
5.
a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to another
he was the picture of his father
6.
a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or quality
the picture of despair
7.
a beautiful person or scene
you'll look a picture
8.
a complete image on a television screen, comprising two interlaced fields
9.
a.
a motion picture; film
b.
(as modifier)
picture theatre
10. the pictures
11. another name for tableau vivant
12. get the picture
13. in the picture
verb(transitive)
14.
to visualize or imagine
15.
to describe or depict, esp vividly
16. (often passive)
to put in a picture or make a picture of
they were pictured sitting on the rocks
Word origin
C15: from Latin pictūra painting, from pingere to paint
picture in American English
(ˈpɪktʃər)
noun
1.
a.
an image or likeness of an object, person, or scene produced on a flat surface, esp. by painting, drawing, or photography
b.
a printed reproduction of this
2.
anything closely resembling or strikingly typifying something else; perfect likeness or image
to be the picture of one's mother, the picture of health
3.
anything regarded as having the compositional beauty of a painting or drawing
4.
a mental image or impression; idea
5.
a vivid or detailed description
a picture of the times
6.
all the facts or conditions of an event, collectively; situation
7.
tableau
8.
film (sense 5)
9.
the image on a television screen
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈpictured or ˈpicturing
10.
to make a picture of by painting, drawing, photographing, etc.
11.
to make visible; show clearly; reflect
12.
to describe or explain
13.
to form a mental picture or impression of; imagine
Idioms:
in (or out of) the picture
Word origin
ME pycture < L pictura < pictus, pp. of pingere, to paint
More idioms containing
picture
get the picture
in the picture
keep someone in the picture
out of the picture
put someone in the picture
COBUILD Collocations
picture
bleak picture
bright picture
broader picture
complex picture
draw pictures
exclusive picture
explicit picture
full picture
gloomy picture
grim picture
indecent picture
mixed picture
present a picture
print a picture
profile picture
publish a picture
see a picture
send a picture
share a picture
shocking picture
tweet a picture
vivid picture
wedding picture
Examples of 'picture' in a sentence
picture
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content.Read more…
The football under his charge was not about painting pretty pictures.
The Sun (2016)
They are fitted with plush dining and bunk cars and have picture windows.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You only have to look at the pictures to see what the pitch looked like.
The Sun (2016)
Others too were now taking over the picture book trail that he had so memorably blazed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Moreover, recent press pictures have depicted the good life enjoyed by some within prison.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It is ourselves, whether or not the picture appears to fit.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We expect to have a clearer picture of trading conditions at the beginning of November.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Try to picture the scene - literally.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
So I ended up finding the real person behind the profile picture.
The Sun (2017)
It enables users to send picture and video messages that self-destruct within ten seconds, adding special effects and filters.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The beautiful pictures are something we love to look back on.
The Sun (2013)
Then picture in your mind the first step on that road.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You can picture the opening scene already.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We took hundreds of random pictures to see if the mysterious spheres might appear again.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Pictures and video from the front line timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For a selection of historic pictures go to our website at timesonline.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Members have profiles with a picture and description.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Which mythical couple is depicted in the picture?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Pictures appeared to show the sentence being carried out.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Yesterday the picture was rather more bleak.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
We found a different picture when we actually talked with the pastors.
Christianity Today (2000)
They asked me to tell them some of my stories and allowed me to take pictures.
Magnouloux, Bernard Travels with Rosinante (1990)
When a patient comes to us we build up a complete picture.
Steel, Elizabeth Coping With Sudden Hair Loss (1988)
The interesting questions lie behind the big picture.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The stronger growth picture now emerging will also help.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This has left some economists to argue that it does not paint a true picture.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Then there was the picture of his car.
The Sun (2012)
He is a cultural celebrity and this picture counts as a piece of memorabilia.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The static set pieces would not be out of place in a picture gallery.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The macho action picture is back in the spotlight.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But the picture was there anyway.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is a mirror image of the picture suggested by Labour.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
On the trading front, the picture remains gloomy.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Quotations
One picture is worth ten thousand wordsFrederick R. BarnardPrinters' Ink
Every picture tells a story
In other languages
picture
British English: picture /ˈpɪktʃə/ NOUN
A picture consists of lines and shapes which are drawn, painted, or printed on a surface and show a person, thing, or scene.
...a small picture drawn with coloured chalk.
American English: picture
Arabic: صُورَة
Brazilian Portuguese: quadro
Chinese: 图画
Croatian: slika
Czech: obraz
Danish: billede
Dutch: afbeelding
European Spanish: imagen
Finnish: kuva
French: image
German: Bild
Greek: εικόνα
Italian: immagine
Japanese: 絵
Korean: 사진
Norwegian: bilde
Polish: obraz zdjęcie
European Portuguese: quadro
Romanian: desen
Russian: картина
Latin American Spanish: imagen
Swedish: bild
Thai: รูปภาพ
Turkish: resim
Ukrainian: картина
Vietnamese: tranh
British English: picture VERB
To be pictured somewhere, for example in a newspaper or magazine, means to appear in a photograph or picture.
The golfer is pictured on many of the front pages, kissing his trophy as he holds it aloft.
American English: picture
Brazilian Portuguese: estampar
Chinese: 登载照片在报纸、杂志上
European Spanish: aparecer en una foto
French: représenter
German: sich vorstellen
Italian: raffigurare
Japanese: 写真が載る
Korean: 사진이나 그림에 등장하다
European Portuguese: estampar
Latin American Spanish: aparecer en una foto
Translate your text for free
All related terms of 'picture'
picture hat
a decorated hat with a very wide brim , esp as worn by women in paintings by Gainsborough and Reynolds
bleak picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
full picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
grim picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
holy picture
a picture of a person or thing that is of religious importance
mixed picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
picture book
A picture book is a book with a lot of pictures and not much writing . Many picture books are intended for children .
picture card
→ face card
picture desk
the department at a magazine or newspaper publisher , that deals with photographs for the paper or magazine
picture frame
a frame for a photo , painting etc
picture house
a place designed for the exhibition of films
picture phone
a mobile phone that can take, send , and receive photographs
picture plane
the plane of a painting , drawing , or the like, that is in the extreme foreground of a picture , is coextensive with but not the same as the material surface of the work, is the point of visual contact between the viewer and the picture, and is conceived as a major structural element in the production of abstract or illusionistic forms
picture rail
A picture rail is a continuous narrow piece of wood which is fixed round a room just below the ceiling . Pictures can be hung from it using string and hooks .
picture show
A picture show is a film shown at a cinema .
picture tube
a cathode-ray tube in a TV receiver , monitor , etc., that produces visual images on its screen
vivid picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
word picture
a verbal description , esp a vivid one
bright picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
broader picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
complex picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
gloomy picture
A picture of something is a description of it or an indication of what it is like.
living picture
a representation of a scene, painting , sculpture , etc, by a person or group posed silent and motionless
motion picture
A motion picture is a film made for cinema.
moving picture
A moving picture is a film.
picture editor
someone whose job is to deal with the photographs and illustrations for a newspaper or magazine
picture-framer
a person or company whose job is to frame photographs , paintings etc
picture-framing
the job of framing photos , paintings etc
picture gallery
a room used for displaying paintings
picture library
A picture library is a collection of photographs that is held by a particular company or organization. Newspapers or publishers can pay to use the photographs in their publications.
picture message
A message is a piece of information or a request that you send to someone or leave for them when you cannot speak to them directly .
picture palace
a place designed for the exhibition of films
picture-perfect
perfect or flawless
picture window
A picture window is a window containing one large sheet of glass, so that people have a good view of what is outside.
picture writing
any writing system that uses pictographs
profile picture
A picture is a photograph .
talking picture
a film with a synchronized soundtrack
wedding picture
A picture is a photograph.
picture-in-picture
a feature of some television receivers and similar devices in which one programme is displayed on the full TV screen at the same time as one or more other programmes are displayed in inset windows
exclusive picture
A picture is a photograph .
explicit picture
A picture is a photograph .
indecent picture
A picture is a photograph.
in the picture
involved in the situation you are talking about
picture messaging
Picture messaging is the sending of photographs or pictures from one mobile phone to another.
picture moulding
the edge around a framed picture
picture postcard
A picture postcard is a postcard with a photograph of a place on it. People often buy picture postcards of places they visit when on holiday.
see a picture
A picture is a photograph .
send a picture
A picture is a photograph .
shocking picture
A picture is a photograph .
big picture, the
a long-range or overall view or account of some complex matter
Chinese translation of 'picture'
picture
(ˈpɪktʃəʳ)
n(c)
(= painting, drawing, print) 画(畫) (huà) (幅, fú)
(= photograph) 照片 (zhàopiàn) (张(張), zhāng)
(TV) 图(圖)像 (túxiàng)
(= film, movie) 电(電)影 (diànyǐng) (部, bù)
(fig)
(= description) 描绘(繪) (miáohuì)
(= situation) 局面 (júmiàn)
vt
(= imagine) 想象 (xiǎngxiàng)
to have a picture of sth (mentally) 非常明白某事 (fēicháng míngbai mǒushì)
to be pictured登照片 (dēng zhàopiàn)
to get the picture (inf) 了解情况(況) (liǎojiě qíngkuàng)
to put sb in the picture使某人非常了解情况(況) (shǐ mǒurén fēicháng liǎojiě qíngkuàng)
to paint a vivid/gloomy/bleak etc picture (of sth)描绘(繪)了(某事的)一副生动(動)/灰暗/凄(淒)凉(涼)等的景象 (miáohuìle (mǒushì de) yī fù shēngdòng/huī'àn/qīliáng děng de jǐngxiàng)
to take a picture of sb/sth给(給)某人/某物拍照 (gěi mǒurén/mǒuwù pāizhào)
Derived Forms
the picturesn pl (Brit) (inf, = the cinema) 电(電)影院 (diànyǐngyuàn)