Pictorial
/pɪkˈtɔːriəl/
Definitions
Relating to or expressed in pictures; illustrated.
/pɪkˈtɔːriəl/
Relating to or consisting of pictures
The ancient scrolls contained pictorial symbols describing their history.
💡 Simply: Imagine a photo album full of pictures. Anything 'pictorial' is like that album – full of images and visual stories. For example, a 'pictorial map' uses pictures to show places and routes instead of just words.
👶 For kids: Something that is pictorial is like a bunch of drawings or pictures that tell a story or show something.
More Examples
The website offered a pictorial guide to the park's trails.
She preferred pictorial books with vivid illustrations to novels.
How It's Used
"The museum displayed a pictorial history of the city."
"The magazine featured a pictorial spread of the latest fashion trends."
"The book included a pictorial representation of the battle."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
pictorial representation
A visual portrayal of something.
"The document provided a pictorial representation of the company's organizational chart."
From Latin *pictorius* ('of a painter') and *pictura* ('a painting'), related to *pingere* ('to paint'). The word evolved to describe anything relating to pictures or depictions.
Used since the mid-17th century, the word's usage increased with the advent of photography and the need to describe visual elements.
Memory tip
Think of a 'picture' (root) and the suffix '-orial' (relating to). Pictorial things involve pictures!
Word Origin
"painting, picture"