picture

UK: /ˈpɪktʃə^r/ US: /ˈpɪktʃɚ/ ,(pik′chər)

Inflections of 'picture' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

pictures

v 3rd person singular

picturing

v pres p

pictured

v past

pictured

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pic•ture /ˈpɪktʃɚ/   n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. [countable]

1. a representation of a person, object, or scene, as a painting, drawing, or photograph:
   He drew a little picture of his dog.
2. a mental image:
   a picture in his mind of that beautiful mountainside in Norway.
3. a strong, powerful description:
   a frightening picture of life in a totalitarian society.
4. Show Business
   • motion picture (def. 2):
     Her latest picture won her an Oscar.
5. the image or perfect likeness of someone else:
   [the + ~] She is the picture of her father.
6. a concrete example of some quality or condition:
   [singular* the/a + ~] He is the very picture of health.
7. a situation or set of circumstances:
   He's missing the big picture (= He does not understand the entire situation).
8. Computing, Cinema the image on a television screen, motion-picture screen, or computer monitor.

v. [~ + object]

9. to represent pictorially, as by painting or drawing:
   The artist pictured her as a young, vibrant woman.
10. to form a mental picture of;
    imagine:
    Picture this: a herd of elephants charging right at you.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pic•ture  (pik′chər), n., v., -tured, -tur•ing. 
n. 

1. a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, as a painting, drawing, photograph, etc.:
   I carry a picture of my grandchild in my wallet.
2. any visible image, however produced:
   pictures reflected in a pool of water.
3. a mental image:
   a clear picture of how he had looked that day.
4. a particular image or reality as portrayed in an account or description;
   depiction;
   version.
5. Show Business a tableau, as in theatrical representation.
6. Show Business See motion picture. 
7. Show Business pictures, Informal (older use). movies.
8. a person, thing, group, or scene regarded as resembling a work of pictorial art in beauty, fineness of appearance, etc.:
   She was a picture in her new blue dress.
9. the image or perfect likeness of someone else:
   He is the picture of his father.
10. a visible or concrete embodiment of some quality or condition:
    the picture of health.
11. a situation or set of circumstances:
    the economic picture.
12. Computing, Cinema the image on a computer monitor, the viewing screen of a television set, or a motion-picture screen.

v.t. 

13. to represent in a picture or pictorially, as by painting or drawing.
14. to form a mental picture of;
    imagine:
    He couldn't picture himself doing such a thing.
15. to depict in words;
    describe graphically:
    He pictured Rome so vividly that you half-believed you were there.
16. to present or create as a setting;
    portray:
    His book pictured the world of the future.

• Latin pictūra the act of painting, a painting, equivalent. to pict(us) (past participle of pingere to paint) + -ūra -ure
• late Middle English 1375–1425

pic′tur•a•ble, adj. 
pic′tur•a•ble•ness, n. 
pic′tur•a•bly, adv. 
pic′tur•er, n. 
Synonyms

• 13, 15. delineate, paint, draw, represent.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

picture / ˈpɪktʃə/ noun

1. a visual representation of something, such as a person or scene, produced on a surface, as in a photograph, painting, etc
2. (as modifier): picture gallery, picture postcard
3. a mental image or impression: a clear picture of events
4. a verbal description, esp one that is vivid
5. a situation considered as an observable scene: the political picture
6. a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to another: he was the picture of his father
7. a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or quality: the picture of despair
8. a complete image on a television screen, comprising two interlaced fields
9. a motion picture; film
10. (as modifier): picture theatre
11. the pictures ⇒ a cinema or film show
12. another name for tableau vivant
13. in the picture ⇒ informed about a given situation

verb (transitive)

1. to visualize or imagine
2. to describe or depict, esp vividly
3. (often passive) to put in a picture or make a picture of: they were pictured sitting on the rocks

Etymology: 15th Century: from Latin pictūra painting, from pingere to paint