# picture

/ˈpɪktʃɝ/ (US) · /pˈɪktʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/picture
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. visual representation

noun · CEFR A1

an image of a person, place, or thing made by drawing, painting, or photography.

For teachers: a visual representation of a subject on a surface, encompassing drawings, paintings, and photographs.

- The children drew a picture of their house with bright crayons.
- The gallery features a diverse collection of pictures, ranging from eighteenth-century oil portraits to contemporary digital photography.

### 2. a photograph

noun · CEFR A1

a photo taken with a camera.

For teachers: a synonym for photograph, frequently used in informal or general-service registers.

- Can I take a picture of you in front of the fountain?
- He scrolled through his phone to find the picture he had taken during the graduation ceremony.

### 3. the cinema

noun · CEFR A2 · British English · Informal

the cinema or a film.

For teachers: a motion picture or the cinema as a venue; often used in the plural 'the pictures'.

- Would you like to go to the pictures with us on Saturday night?
- In the mid-twentieth century, going to the pictures was the primary form of weekly entertainment for many families.

### 4. the whole situation

noun · CEFR B2

the general situation or the complete story of what is happening.

For teachers: the overall circumstances or the 'big picture' regarding a specific situation.

- We need more information to get a clear picture of the problem.
- The quarterly report provides a comprehensive picture of the company's financial health following the recent merger.

### 5. perfect example

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a perfect example of a particular quality.

For teachers: a person or thing that is a perfect example or embodiment of a quality.

- The young athlete was the picture of health and energy.
- Standing amidst the ruins of his former estate, the old man was the very picture of despair.

### 6. to imagine

verb · CEFR B1

to form a mental image of something in your mind.

For teachers: to visualize or form a mental representation of a person, place, or event.

- I can't picture him as a doctor because he is so shy.
- It is difficult to picture how the landscape looked before the industrial revolution transformed the valley.

### 7. to show or describe

verb · CEFR B2

to show or describe someone or something in a certain way.

For teachers: to depict or represent someone or something in a visual or verbal medium.

- The book pictures the small town as a very peaceful place.
- The documentary pictures the artist as a reclusive genius who struggled with the pressures of sudden fame.

## Examples

- She took a beautiful picture of the sunset.
- The textbook includes a clear picture of the human heart to help students understand its structure.
- The artist spent several months working on a single picture, meticulously layering oil paints to capture the subtle play of light across the landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.