Definition of "picture" in English

noun

1. A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, by drawing, painting, printing, photography, etc.

2. An image; a representation as in the imagination.

3. A painting.

   • There was a picture hanging above the fireplace.

4. A photograph.

   • I took a picture of the church.

5. (dated or India) A motion picture.

   • Casablanca is my all-time favorite picture.

6. (in the plural, informal) ("the pictures") Cinema (as a form of entertainment).

   • Let's go to the pictures.

7. A paragon, a perfect example or specimen (of a category).

   • She's the very picture of health.

8. An attractive sight.

   • The garden is a real picture at this time of year.

9. The art of painting; representation by painting.

10. A figure; a model.

11. Situation.

    • The employment picture for the older middle class is not so good.
    • You can't just look at the election, you've got to look at the big picture.

12. (MLE) A sample of an illegal drug.

    • If you want me to buy your weed I’ll need a picture.

13. (programming) A format string in the COBOL programming language.

verb

1. (transitive) To represent in or with a picture.

2. (transitive) To imagine or envision.

3. (transitive) To depict or describe vividly.