picturesque
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
describing a place that is pretty in a traditional way, like a scene in a painting.
visually charming or quaint, resembling the aesthetic qualities of a landscape painting.
Simple“We stayed in a picturesque little village with stone houses and narrow streets.”
In context“The hikers paused at the summit to admire the picturesque valley, where the winding river reflected the golden hues of the late afternoon sun.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it describes.
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
describing language or descriptions that are very clear and create a strong picture in your mind.
referring to language or imagery that is strikingly graphic, vivid, or evocative.
Simple“The author used picturesque language to describe the sights and sounds of the busy market.”
In context“His travelogue was filled with picturesque descriptions of the local customs, allowing readers to imagine the festival in great detail.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is less common than the physical description of a place; learners should use 'vivid' for everyday speech.
“He had passed another full layby in Glencoe valley, a particularly picturesque and popular part of the Scottish highlands that attracts large numbers of overseas tourists.”
“In a picturesque village, the mayor closed a road, setting off a storm with residents and the owners of a castle that once belonged to his family.”
From picture + -esque, a calque of French pittoresque, from picture (“a picture, painting”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.