Picture
/ˈpɪktʃər/
Definitions
3 meaningsA visual representation of a person, object, or scene, usually created by drawing, painting, or photography.
/ˈpɪktʃər/
A visual representation of something.
He sent me a picture of his new puppy.
💡 Simply: A picture is like a drawing or photo that shows you something. Think of a family photo album – that's full of pictures!
👶 For kids: A picture is a drawing or a photo of something.
More Examples
The gallery showcases many beautiful pictures.
She painted a vivid picture of the countryside.
How It's Used
"The museum displayed a collection of historical pictures."
"She took a picture of the sunset with her phone."
To imagine; to form a mental image of something.
/ˈpɪktʃər/
To create a mental image.
I can easily picture us all together next summer.
💡 Simply: To picture something means to imagine it in your head, like when you close your eyes and try to see what your friend is doing.
👶 For kids: To picture means to think of something in your head like a movie.
More Examples
Try to picture the scene as I describe it.
She pictured herself walking on the beach.
How It's Used
"The author pictured the scene vividly in the reader's mind."
"I can picture you there, laughing."
A situation or a state of affairs, often complex and involving many factors; a composite view or account.
/ˈpɪktʃər/
A situation or a state of affairs.
The report provides a clear picture of the challenges.
💡 Simply: Sometimes 'picture' means the whole scene or situation, not just a drawing. It's like saying, 'What's the overall picture of the party?'
👶 For kids: The 'big picture' is like what everything looks like together, all at once.
More Examples
The new data paints a positive picture of the market.
We need to understand the big picture before making a decision.
How It's Used
"This presents a complex picture of the economy."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
in the picture
Included or involved in a situation or project.
"I want to be in the picture for the new project."
a picture is worth a thousand words
Visual information is often more valuable than textual descriptions.
"Instead of trying to describe the landscape, she simply showed a picture – a picture is worth a thousand words."
paint a picture
To describe something in a vivid or detailed way, to create a mental image.
"The author painted a vivid picture of life in the city."
From Middle English *picture, pycture*, from Old French *pisture* (Modern French *peinture*), from Latin *pictus* (past participle of *pingere*, 'to paint').
The word 'picture' has evolved from its initial use in art to encompass broader meanings related to representation and imagination.
Memory tip
Imagine a painted scene - that's a picture!
Word Origin
"To paint (from *pingere*)"