picturea work of art, as a painting, drawing, photograph, etc.; portrait; movie; any visual image; a person or thing resembling another closely: the very picture of her motherNot to be confused with:pitcher ? a container for holding and pouring liquids: a pitcher of cream; a person who pitches: a baseball pitcherAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreepic·ture (p?k?ch?r)n.1. A visual representation or image painted, drawn, photographed, or otherwise rendered on a flat surface.2. A visible image, especially one on a flat surface or screen: the picture reflected in the lake; focused the picture on the movie screen.3. a. A vivid or realistic verbal description: a Shakespearean picture of guilt.b. A vivid mental image.4. A person or object bearing a marked resemblance to another: She’s the picture of her mother.5. A person, object, or scene that typifies or embodies an emotion, state of mind, or mood: Your face was the very picture of horror.6. The chief circumstances of an event or time; the situation: How does the new boyfriend figure in the picture?7. A movie.8. A tableau vivant.tr.v. pic·tured, pic·tur·ing, pic·tures 1. To make a visible representation of: In this photo, the mayor is pictured with several aides.2. To form a mental image of; visualize: I pictured my grandfather as a young man coming to America.3. To describe vividly in words; make a verbal picture of: pictured their heroism in glowing language.[Middle English, from Latin pict?ra, from pictus, painted, past participle of pingere, to paint; see peig- in Indo-European roots.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.picture (?p?kt??) n1. a. a visual representation of something, such as a person or scene, produced on a surface, as in a photograph, painting, etcb. (as modifier): picture gallery; picture postcard. pictorial2. a mental image or impression: a clear picture of events. 3. a verbal description, esp one that is vivid4. a situation considered as an observable scene: the political picture. 5. a person or thing that bears a close resemblance to another: he was the picture of his father. 6. a person, scene, etc, considered as typifying a particular state or quality: the picture of despair. 7. a beautiful person or scene: you’ll look a picture. 8. (Broadcasting) a complete image on a television screen, comprising two interlaced fields9. (Film) a. a motion picture; filmb. (as modifier): picture theatre. 10. (Film) the pictures chiefly Brit and Austral a cinema or film show11. (Theatre) another name for tableau vivant12. get the picture informal to understand a situation13. in the picture informed about a given situationvb (tr) 14. to visualize or imagine15. to describe or depict, esp vividly16. (often passive) to put in a picture or make a picture of: they were pictured sitting on the rocks. [C15: from Latin pict?ra painting, from pingere to paint]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014pic?ture (?p?k t??r) n., v. -tured, -tur?ing. n. 1. a visual representation of a person, object, or scene, as a painting, drawing, or photograph. 2. any visible image, however produced. 3. a mental image. 4. a graphic or vivid account or description. 5. a tableau, as in theatrical representation. 6. a. motion picture (def. 2). b. pictures, Older Use. movie (defs. 2, 3). 7. a person, thing, group, or scene regarded as resembling a work of pictorial art in beauty, fineness of appearance, etc. 8. the image or perfect likeness of someone else: She is the picture of her father. 9. a visible or concrete embodiment of some quality or condition: the picture of health. 10. a situation or set of circumstances: the economic picture. 11. the image on a television screen, motion-picture screen, or computer monitor. v.t. 12. to represent in a picture or pictorially, as by painting or drawing. 13. to form a mental picture of; imagine. 14. to depict in words; describe graphically. [1375?1425; late Middle English