What is picture? Pronunciation and usage in English

picture means . Learn how to pronounce and use picture through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of picture

picturenoun

/ˈpɪktʃə/
Definition & pronunciation of picture

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "picture" in English. It's a tricky one for some learners! Here's a breakdown:

The most common and accepted pronunciation is:

  • /ˈpɪk.tʃər/ (This is how you'll hear it most of the time)

Let's break it down syllable by syllable:

  1. "Pic-": This part sounds like "pick" – like the word "pick" you use to grab something. Think of the quick, sharp sound of the "p" and the "i" sound.

  2. "ture": This is where it gets a bit tricky. It's pronounced like "cher" (rhymes with "her"). It's a short "uh" sound.

Putting it together:

You say it fast, almost running the syllables together: ˈpɪk.tʃər

Key points to remember:

  • Emphasis: The first syllable ("pic") is stressed. That’s why it's written with a prime symbol (ˈ) over it.
  • "ch" sound: The "ture" part uses the "ch" sound like in "chair" or "church."

Resources for Hearing it:

Would you like me to:

  • Repeat the pronunciation?
  • Give you some similar-sounding words to practice with?

Usage and examples with the word picture in English

Let's break down how to use the word "picture" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with a lot of different meanings and ways to use it! Here's a categorized breakdown:

1. As a Visual Image (Most Common)

  • Literal Image: This is the most common usage – referring to a visual representation of something.
    • "I took a picture of the sunset."
    • "She painted a beautiful picture of the countryside."
    • "The museum has a collection of old pictures."
    • "The picture on the wall is very inspiring."

2. Figurative Meaning - Representation or Concept

  • A Mental Image: "Picture" can describe a mental image or concept.

    • "Can you picture yourself living on a tropical island?" (Meaning: Can you imagine it?)
    • "I can’t quite picture what he meant." (Meaning: I can’t visualize the idea clearly.)
    • “Imagine a world without cars – it’s a difficult picture to grasp.”

  • A Scenario or Situation: Often used to describe a situation.

    • "Let’s picture this: you’re giving a presentation to a large audience." (Meaning: Let’s imagine this situation.)
    • "The detective tried to picture the suspect’s face."

3. As a “Picture” (Noun - a photograph)

  • Specifically, a photograph: This is crucial!
    • "I need to develop the pictures from my trip."
    • “She posted a selfie on Instagram.” (Selfies are pictures usually taken with a smartphone.)
    • “Print out the picture so I can hang it.”

4. As a "Picture" (Verb - to depict or show)

  • To depict or represent: This is less common but important.
    • “The artist pictured a knight battling a dragon.” (Meaning: The artist depicted a knight battling a dragon.)
    • "The movie pictures a dystopian future." (Meaning: The movie shows, portrays, or represents a dystopian future.)

5. Idiomatic Expressions

  • “A picture is worth a thousand words.” – A common saying meaning that a visual representation can be more effective than a lengthy description.
  • “To get the picture” – To understand something completely; to grasp the main idea. “Do you get the picture?”
  • "Don't paint a rosy picture" – Don't present a misleadingly optimistic view.

6. Specific Contexts

  • Board Games & Puzzles: "A jigsaw picture"
  • Television & Film: "A picture show” (an older term for a movie)
  • Medicine: "An X-ray picture"

Here’s a table summarizing the different ways to use “picture”:

Part of Speech Meaning Example
Noun Visual image, photograph “That’s a lovely picture.”
Noun Mental image/concept “I can’t picture what he said.”
Noun Scenario, situation “Let’s picture the scene.”
Verb To depict, represent “He pictured himself winning.”
Idiom To understand completely “Do you get the picture?”

Resources for further learning:

To help me give you even more tailored advice, could you tell me:

  • What kind of context are you trying to use “picture” in? (e.g., writing a story, having a conversation, etc.)

Synonyms for the word picture

Idioms of the word picture

as pretty as a picture
(old-fashioned)very pretty
  • She’s as pretty as a picture.
be/look a picture
to look very beautiful or special
  • The garden looks a picture in the summer.
be the picture of health, guilt, misery, etc.
(informal)to look extremely healthy, guilty, unhappy, etc.
    the big picture
    (informal)the situation as a whole
    • Right now forget the details and take a look at the big picture.
    get the picture
    (informal)to understand a situation, especially one that somebody is describing to you
    • ‘I pretended that I hadn't heard.’ ‘I get the picture.’
    in/out of the picture
    (informal)involved/not involved in a situation
    • Morris is likely to win, with Jones out of the picture now.
    paint a (grim, gloomy, rosy, etc.) picture of somebody/something
    to describe somebody/something in a particular way; to give a particular impression of somebody/something
    • The report paints a vivid picture of life in the city.
    • Journalists paint a grim picture of conditions in the camps.
    put/keep somebody in the picture
    (informal)to give somebody the information they need in order to understand a situation
    • Just to put you in the picture—there have been a number of changes here recently.

    Practice with vocabulary picture

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. The architect presented a detailed ___________ of the proposed building's exterior to the client.
    2. From the various reports, we were able to get a clear ___________ of the company's financial health.
    3. The media's ___________ of the politician was largely negative, influencing public opinion.
    4. During the presentation, she provided an in-depth ___________ of the project's methodology.

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. The forensic team relied on the high-resolution ___________ taken at the crime scene for their analysis. A) photograph B) image C) picture D) blueprint E) illustration

    2. To fully grasp the implications of the new policy, we need to get a complete ___________ of its potential impact. A) summary B) overview C) picture D) narrative E) understanding

    3. It's hard to ___________ a world without advanced communication technologies. A) imagine B) envision C) perceive D) picture E) comprehend

    4. The artist's ___________ of urban decay was both stark and thought-provoking. A) depiction B) description C) observation D) interpretation E) critique

    5. During the financial presentation, the CEO used several compelling ___________ to explain the quarterly results. A) narratives B) visuals C) reports D) graphics E) anecdotes

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. Original: It's difficult to fully comprehend the scale of the universe. Rewrite: It's difficult to ___________ the full scale of the universe.

    2. Original: The management team provided an overall understanding of the project's current status. Rewrite: The management team provided a clear ___________ of the project's current status.

    3. Original: The detailed drawing helped us visualize the proposed design. Rewrite: The detailed ___________ helped us visualize the proposed design.

    Answer:

    Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

    1. picture
    2. picture
    3. portrayal
    4. description

    Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

    1. A, B, C (photograph, image, picture)
    2. B, C, E (overview, picture, understanding)
    3. A, B, D (imagine, envision, picture)
    4. A, B, D (depiction, description, interpretation)
    5. B, D (visuals, graphics)

    Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

    1. It's difficult to picture the full scale of the universe.
    2. The management team provided a clear picture of the project's current status.
    3. The detailed illustration helped us visualize the proposed design.

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