picture
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.an image of a person, place, or thing made by drawing, painting, or photography.
n.a visual representation of a subject on a surface, encompassing drawings, paintings, and photographs.
Simple“The children drew a picture of their house with bright crayons.”
In context“The gallery features a diverse collection of pictures, ranging from eighteenth-century oil portraits to contemporary digital photography.”
Synonyms - 02 A1 Beginner
n.a photo taken with a camera.
n.a synonym for photograph, frequently used in informal or general-service registers.
Simple“Can I take a picture of you in front of the fountain?”
In context“He scrolled through his phone to find the picture he had taken during the graduation ceremony.”
Synonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
n.the cinema or a film.
n.a motion picture or the cinema as a venue; often used in the plural 'the pictures'.
Simple“Would you like to go to the pictures with us on Saturday night?”
In context“In the mid-twentieth century, going to the pictures was the primary form of weekly entertainment for many families.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the general situation or the complete story of what is happening.
n.the overall circumstances or the 'big picture' regarding a specific situation.
Simple“We need more information to get a clear picture of the problem.”
In context“The quarterly report provides a comprehensive picture of the company's financial health following the recent merger.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a perfect example of a particular quality.
n.a person or thing that is a perfect example or embodiment of a quality.
Simple“The young athlete was the picture of health and energy.”
In context“Standing amidst the ruins of his former estate, the old man was the very picture of despair.”
Synonyms - 06 B1 Intermediate
v.to form a mental image of something in your mind.
v.to visualize or form a mental representation of a person, place, or event.
Simple“I can't picture him as a doctor because he is so shy.”
In context“It is difficult to picture how the landscape looked before the industrial revolution transformed the valley.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to show or describe someone or something in a certain way.
v.to depict or represent someone or something in a visual or verbal medium.
Simple“The book pictures the small town as a very peaceful place.”
In context“The documentary pictures the artist as a reclusive genius who struggled with the pressures of sudden fame.”
Usage picture book · accurate picture · complex picture
From Middle English pycture, from Old French picture, itself from Latin pictūra (“the art of painting, a painting”), from pingō (“to paint”). Doublet of pictura.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.