picture

Pluralpictures

Formspictures, picturing, pictured

1. 1
   a photonouncountable

   A photo you take with a camera.

   Can you take a picture of us?

   I printed the pictures from our trip.

   UsageSay take a picture of something (not incorrect: make a picture). People are in a picture.

   Similarphoto, photograph, snapshot, shot

2. 2
   artworknouncountable

   An image of something, such as a drawing or painting.

   Like a window that always shows the same view.

   She drew a picture of her family.

   The book had a picture on every page.

   UsageA picture by someone was made by them. A picture of someone shows them.

   Similarlikeness

   Note
3. 3
   whole situationnouncountable

   How things are at a certain time or place.

   Like stepping back to see a whole room, not just one corner.

   Once she explained, the whole picture became clear.

   Sales are up this month, but the overall picture is still not good.

   UsageOften with a word before it, like the whole picture. The big picture means everything together, not just one part.

4. 4
   filmnouncountable

   A film or movie.

   Like a story told with moving images on a screen.

   The studio released its biggest picture that summer.

   He starred in over forty pictures during his career.

   UsagePeople usually say movie or film. Picture is used more by people who make films, as in Best Picture.

   Similarfilm, movie

   Note
5. 5
   imagineverbtransitive

   To see something clearly in your mind.

   Like a movie that only plays inside your head.

   Picture a quiet beach with no one around.

   I can picture the house we used to live in.

   UsageOften used to ask someone to imagine: picture this, picture yourself there. Say picture someone doing something.

   Similarimagine, visualize, envision, envisage

   Note
6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To show something in a picture, or to describe it so well that people can imagine it clearly.

   Like copying a real thing onto paper so others can see it.

   Old maps often picture sea monsters in the ocean.

   The painting pictured the harbor at sunset.

   UsageOften used like this under photos: the man pictured above, she is pictured with her family.

7. 7
   nouncountable

   A description that helps you understand what something is like.

   Her letters give a good picture of life on the farm.

   Can you give me a clearer picture of what happened at school?

   UsageOften used in paint a picture of something and give someone a picture of something.

   Similarportrait, account, portrayal, overview

8. 8
   mental imagenouncountable

   An image of something that you form in your mind.

   Like a memory you can see when you shut your eyes.

   She had a clear picture of the day in her memory.

   I still have a clear picture in my head of our first home.

   UsageYou have or form a picture of something in your mind.

   Similarimage, impression, idea, vision

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The image on a TV or computer screen, especially how clear or good it looks.

   The picture on our old TV is fuzzy and too dark.

   The picture keeps freezing when I watch videos on my phone.

   Similarimage, display

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