# pictures

/ˈpɪktʃɝz/ (US) · /pˈɪktʃəz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. more than one image

noun · CEFR A1

more than one drawing, painting, or photograph.

For teachers: the plural form of picture, referring to multiple visual representations on a surface.

- She hung several pictures of her family on the living room wall.
- The gallery displayed a series of pictures depicting the industrial landscape of northern England during the mid-twentieth century.

### 2. the cinema

noun · CEFR B1 · British English · Informal

the cinema or a place where you go to watch a film.

For teachers: a plural-only noun referring to the cinema or the film industry; common in British and Irish English.

- Do you want to go to the pictures to see the new action movie tonight?
- In the era before television became universal, a weekly trip to the pictures was the primary form of entertainment for most families.

Usage: Usually used with 'the', as in 'going to the pictures'.

Teaching tip: This is a slightly old-fashioned but still common way to say 'the cinema' in the UK and Ireland.

## Examples

- She likes to take pictures of her cat.
- The children drew colorful pictures of their families during the first week of school.
- The gallery curator spent weeks arranging the pictures to ensure that the lighting highlighted the subtle textures of the oil paint without causing glare.

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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.