picture

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: pic=ture

CIDE DICTIONARY

picture, n. [L. pictura, fr. pingere, pictum, to paint: cf. F. peinture. See Paint.].

•  The art of painting; representation by painting.  [1913 Webster]

  "Any well-expressed image . . . either in picture or sculpture."  [1913 Webster]
•  A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, produced by means of painting, drawing, engraving, photography, etc.; a representation in colors. By extension, a figure; a model.  [1913 Webster]

  "Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects."  [1913 Webster]

  "The young king's picture . . . in virgin wax."  [1913 Webster]
•  An image or resemblance; a representation, either to the eye or to the mind; that which, by its likeness, brings vividly to mind some other thing; as, a child is the picture of his father; the man is the picture of grief.  [1913 Webster]

  " Picture is often used adjectively, or in forming self-explaining compounds; as, picture book or picture-book, picture frame or picture-frame, picture seller or picture-seller, etc."  [1913 Webster]

  "My eyes make pictures when they are shut."  [1913 Webster]

Animated picture, a moving picture. -- Picture gallery, a gallery, or large apartment, devoted to the exhibition of pictures. -- Picture red, a rod of metal tube fixed to the walls of a room, from which pictures are hung. -- Picture writing. (a) The art of recording events, or of expressing messages, by means of pictures representing the actions or circumstances in question. Tylor. (b) The record or message so represented; as, the picture writing of the American Indians.

Syn. -- Picture, Painting.

picture, v. t. 

 To draw or paint a resemblance of; to delineate; to represent; to form or present an ideal likeness of; to bring before the mind.  Spenser.  [1913 Webster]
"I have not seen him so pictured."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

picture, n. & v.
--n.
1 a (often attrib.) a painting, drawing, photograph, etc., esp. as a work of art (picture frame). b a portrait, esp. a photograph, of a person (does not like to have her picture taken). c a beautiful object (her hat is a picture).
2 a a total visual or mental impression produced; a scene (the picture looks bleak). b a written or spoken description (drew a vivid picture of moral decay).
3 a a film. b (in pl.) Brit. a showing of films at a cinema (went to the pictures). c (in pl.) films in general.
4 an image on a television screen.
5 colloq. a esp. iron. a person or thing exemplifying something (he was the picture of innocence). b a person or thing resembling another closely (the picture of her aunt).
--v.tr.
1 represent in a picture.
2 (also refl.; often foll. by to) imagine, esp. visually or vividly (pictured it to herself).
3 describe graphically.

Idiom

get the picture colloq. grasp the tendency or drift of circumstances, information, etc. in the picture fully informed or noticed. out of the picture uninvolved, inactive; irrelevant. picture-book a book containing many illustrations. picture-card a court-card. picture-gallery a place containing an exhibition or collection of pictures. picture-goer a person who frequents the cinema. picture hat a woman's wide-brimmed highly decorated hat as in pictures by Reynolds and Gainsborough. picture-moulding 1 woodwork etc. used for framing pictures.
2 a rail on a wall used for hanging pictures from. picture-palace (or -theatre) Brit. archaic a cinema. picture postcard a postcard with a picture on one side. picture window a very large window consisting of one pane of glass. picture-writing a mode of recording events etc. by pictorial symbols as in early hieroglyphics etc.

Etymology

ME f. L pictura f. pingere pict- paint

DEVIL DICTIONARY

picture

n. A representation in two dimensions of something wearisome in three.

"Behold great Daubert's picture here on view --
Taken from Life." If that description's true,
Grant, heavenly Powers, that I be taken, too.
Jali Hane

THESAURUS

picture

3-D, CRT spot, Cinemascope, Cinerama, DM display, Doppler signal, IF signal, IM display, RF echoes, Technicolor, Telephoto, Vorstellung, Western, Wirephoto, abstract, abstraction, aerial photograph, ally, altarpiece, alter ego, analogon, analogue, animated cartoon, approach, arrangement, artwork, associate, attack, badge, banner, beam, beat signal, black spot, black-and-white film, black-and-white photograph, blips, block print, bloom, blooping, blueprint, blueprinting, bounces, brass tacks, bring to life, brother, calculation, call to mind, call up, cameo, candid photograph, carbon copy, cartoon, catalog, cataloging, catch a likeness, certified copy, chalk, character, character sketch, characteristic, characterization, characterize, charcoal, chart, charting, cheesecake, chiller, chronophotograph, cine, cinema, close copy, close match, cognate, collage, color, color film, color photograph, color print, companion, complement, concept, conception, conceptualization, congenator, congener, conjure up, contrivance, coordinate, copy, correlate, correlative, correspondent, counterfeit, counterpart, crayon, creepie, crosshatch, cyclorama, dash off, daub, dead ringer, definition, delineate, delineation, depict, depiction, describe, description, design, details, device, diagram, diapositive, differentia, diptych, display, disposition, documentary, documentary film, doodle, double, double-dot display, draft, draw, drawing, duplicate, earmark, echo, echo signal, ectype, educational film, effigy, eidetic image, embodiment, engraving, enterprise, envisage, envisagement, envisaging, envision, envisioning, epitome, equivalent, essence, essential facts, essentials, evocation, evoke, exact likeness, express, eyeful, facsimile, fair copy, faithful copy, fake, fancy, feature, fellow, figuring, film, flare, flick, flicker, foresight, forethought, forgery, fresco, fringe area, game, ghost, give words to, granulation, graphic account, graphing, grid, ground plan, guidelines, hallmark, hard shadow, hatch, heliochrome, heliograph, hit off, horror picture, horse opera, icon, idea, idiosyncrasy, idol, illumination, illustrate, illustration, image, imagery, imagery study, imagine, imaging, imagism, imitation, impression, incarnation, index, indicant, indicator, insignia, intention, interpret, itemization, just see, keynote, kindred spirit, layout, lifelike image, like, likeness, limn, limning, lineup, living image, living picture, local oscillator signal, long-range plan, map, mapping, mark, master plan, match, mate, measure, mental image, mental picture, mental representation, method, methodology, miniature, mirroring, model, montage, mosaic, motion picture, motion-picture show, movie, moving picture, mug, mug shot, multiple image, mural, near duplicate, newsreel, noise, notate, note, notion, nudie, objectification, objectify, obverse, operations research, organization, outline, output signal, paint, paint a picture, painting, panorama, parallel, particularization, pasticcio, pastiche, peculiarity, pencil, pendant, personification, phony, photo, photobiography, photochronograph, photodrama, photograph, photomap, photomicrograph, photomontage, photomural, photoplay, picture noise, picture shifts, picture show, picturing, picturize, pinup, pips, plan, planning, planning function, poem, poetic imagery, pornographic film, portrait, portraiture, portray, portrayal, prearrangement, presentment, preview, print, procedure, profile, program, program of action, property, prototype, radar signal, rain, rationalization, reading, realize, reciprocal, reflection, register, render, rendering, rendition, represent, representation, representative, reproduction, resemblance, return, return signal, ringer, rolling, rub, rubbing, scanning pattern, schedule, schema, schematism, schematization, schematize, scheme, scheme of arrangement, scintillation, scratch, scumble, seal, second self, see, semblance, set forth, setup, shade, shading, shadow, short, shot, show, sigil, sign, signal, signal display, signature, silent, silent film, similitude, simulacrum, sister, sketch, skin flick, slide, snap, snapshot, sneak preview, snow, snowstorm, soul mate, spaghetti Western, specification, spit, spit and image, spitting image, spot, stained glass window, stamp, stencil, still, still life, still photograph, strategic plan, strategy, such, suchlike, summon up, sure sign, symbolize, symptom, system, systematization, tableau, tactical plan, tactics, take a rubbing, talkie, talking picture, tally, tapestry, target image, telephotograph, telltale sign, the big picture, the data, the details, the dope, the facts, the information, the like of, the likes of, the particulars, the picture, the scoop, the score, the specifics, the whole story, thing of beauty, thriller, tint, trace, trace out, trace over, tracing, trailer, trait, transmitter signal, transparency, triptych, twin, underground film, understanding, very image, very picture, video signal, vignette, vision, visual image, visualization, visualize, vivid description, wall painting, way, word painting, word-painting, working plan, write

ROGET THESAURUS

picture

Description

VB describe, set forth, draw a picture, picture, portray, characterize, particularize, narrate, relate, recite, recount, sum up, run over, recapitulate, rehearse, fight one's battles over again, unfold a tale, tell, give an account of, render an account of, report, make a report, draw up a statement, detail, enter into particulars, enter into details, descend to particulars, descend to details, itemize.

Copy

N copy, facsimile, counterpart, effigies, effigy, form, likeness, image, picture, photo, xerox, similitude, semblance, ectype, photo offset, electrotype, imitation, model, representation, adumbration, study, portrait, resemblance, duplicate, reproduction, cast, tracing, reflex, reflexion, reflection, shadow, echo, transcript, transcription, recording, scan, chip off the old block, reprint, new printing, rechauffe, apograph, fair copy, parody, caricature, burlesque, travesty, travestie, paraphrase, derivative, derivation, modification, expansion, extension, revision, second edition, servile copy, servile imitation, plagiarism, counterfeit, fake, pasticcio, faithful, lifelike, close, conscientious, unoriginal, imitative, derivative.

Appearance

N appearance, phenomenon, sight, spectacle, show, premonstration, scene, species, view, coup d'oeil, lookout, outlook, prospect, vista, perspective, bird's-eye view, scenery, landscape, picture, tableau, display, exposure, mise en sc ne, rising of the curtain, phantasm, phantom, pageant, spectacle, peep-show, raree-show, gallanty-show, ombres chinoises, magic lantern, phantasmagoria, dissolving views, biograph, cinematograph, moving pictures, panorama, diorama, cosmorama, georama, coup de theatre, jeu de theatre, pageantry, insignia, aspect, angle, phase, phasis, seeming, shape, guise, look, complexion, color, image, mien, air, cast, carriage, port, demeanor, presence, expression, first blush, face of the thing, point of view, light, lineament feature trait lines, outline, outside, contour, face, countenance, physiognomy, visage, phiz, cast of countenance, profile, tournure, cut of one s jib, metoposcopy, outside, apparent, seeming, ostensible, on view, apparently, to all seeming, to all appearance, ostensibly, seemingly, as it seems, on the face of it, prima facie, at the first blush, at first sight, in the eyes of, to the eye, editio princeps.

Imagination

VB imagine, fancy, conceive, idealize, realize, dream, dream of, dream up, give to airy nothing a local habitation and a name, create, originate, devise, invent, coin, fabricate, improvise, strike out something new, set one's wits to work, strain one's invention, crack one's invention, rack one's brains, ransack one's brains, cudgel one's brains, excogitate, brainstorm, give play, give the reins, give a loose to the imagination, give fancy, indulge in reverie, visualize, envision, conjure up a vision, fancy oneself, represent oneself, picture, picture-oneself, figure to oneself, vorstellen, float in the mind, suggest itself.

Representation

N representation, representment, imitation, illustration, delineation, depictment, imagery, portraiture, iconography, design, designing, art, fine arts, painting, sculpture, engraving, photography, cinematography, radiography, autoradiography, fluorography, sciagraphy, personation, personification, impersonation, drama, picture, photo, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, X-ray photo, movie film, movie, tracing, scan, TV image, video image, image file, graphics, computer graphics, televideo, closed-circuit TV, copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, represent, representing, representative, illustrative, represented, imitative, figurative, iconic, like, graphic, cinquecento quattrocento, trecento.

Painting

N painting, depicting, drawing, design, perspective, sciagraphy, skiagraphy, chiaroscuro, composition, treatment, historical painting, portrait painting, miniature painting, landscape painting, marine painting, still life, flower painting, scene painting, scenography, school, style, the grand style, high art, genre, portraiture, ornamental art, monochrome, polychrome, grisaille, pallet, palette, easel, brush, pencil, stump, black lead, charcoal, crayons, chalk, pastel, paint, watercolor, body color, oil color, oils, oil paint, varnish, priming, gouache, tempera, distemper, fresco, water glass, enamel, encaustic painting, mosaic, tapestry, photography, heliography, color photography, sun painting, graphics, computer graphics, picture, painting, piece, tableau, canvas, oil painting, fresco, cartoon, easel picture, cabinet picture, draught, draft, pencil drawing, water color drawing, etching, charcoal, pen-and-ink, sketch, outline, study, photograph, color photograph, black-and-white photograph, holograph, heliograph, daguerreotype, talbotype, calotype, heliotype, negative, positive, print, glossy print, matte print, enlargement, reduction, life-size print, instant photo, Polaroid photo, technicolor, Kodachrome, Ektachrome, Polaroid, portrait, whole length, full length, half length, kitcat, head, miniature, shade, silhouette, profile, landscape, seapiece, view, scene, prospect, panorama, diorama, still life, picture gallery, exhibit, studio, atelier, pinacotheca, painted, pictorial, graphic, picturesque, pencil, oil, in pencil, fecit, delineavit, mutum est pictura poema.