Photograph

/ˈfoʊtəɡræf/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonTechnology
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A picture created by capturing light on a light-sensitive surface, typically film or a digital sensor.

/ˈfoʊtəɡræf/

nounneutralBeginner
Technology

A picture made using a camera.

She keeps her photographs in a scrapbook.

💡 Simply: It's like a captured moment in time, a picture you take with a camera! Think of a picture of your pet!

👶 For kids: A picture taken with a camera.

More Examples

2

This photograph captures a beautiful landscape.

3

He developed the photographs in a darkroom.

How It's Used

General

"I took a photograph of the sunset."

Art

"The museum displayed several historical photographs."

2

To record an image of something using a camera.

/ˈfoʊtəɡræf/

verbneutralBeginner
General

To take a photograph of something or someone.

He photographed the birds in the garden.

💡 Simply: To take a picture with a camera! You point, click, and 'photograph'!

👶 For kids: To take a picture.

More Examples

2

She's always photographing her cat.

3

Can you photograph us in front of the monument?

How It's Used

Travel

"I photographed the Eiffel Tower."

Journalism

"The reporter photographed the scene of the accident."

Tip:Imagine you are 'graphing' (writing with) light to make a picture.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

photograph well

To look good in photographs.

"The bride photographed well on her wedding day."

From Greek *phōtos* (light) + *graphein* (to write, draw). Originally, it meant to write or draw with light, referring to the process of capturing an image.

The term 'photograph' gained popularity in the mid-19th century with the invention and spread of photography.

Memory tip

Think of a 'photo' (short for photograph) to remember the image.

Word Origin

LanguageGreek
Original meaning

"Writing with light"

take a photographdevelop a photographphotograph wellblack and white photographcolor photograph

Common misspellings

fotographphotograffphotagraphfotagraph

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written