portrait

[ pawr-trit, -treyt, pohr- ]

noun

1. a likeness of a person, especially of the face, as a painting, drawing, or photograph:

   a gallery of family portraits.

2. a verbal picture or description, usually of a person:

   a biography that provides a fascinating portrait of an 18th-century rogue.

adjective

1. Digital Technology. relating to or producing vertical, upright orientation of computer or other digital output, with lines of data parallel to the two shorter sides of a page or screen. Compare landscape. Compare landscape ( def 8 ).

portrait

/ -treɪt; ˈpɔːtrɪt /

noun

1. 1. a painting, drawing, sculpture, photograph, or other likeness of an individual, esp of the face
   2. ( as modifier )

      a portrait gallery

2. a verbal description or picture, esp of a person's character

adjective

1. printing (of a publication or an illustration in a publication) of greater height than width Compare landscape

Other Words From

• portrait·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of portrait¹

1560–70; < Middle French: a drawing, image, etc., noun use of past participle of portraire to portray

Example Sentences

Leonardo had done such sorts of composition before, most notably in the exquisite “Lady With an Ermine,” a portrait of the Duke of Milan’s beautiful 16-year-old mistress.

From Los Angeles Times

Items include his glasses, the piano he practised on, a painting of the star by royal portrait artist Richard Stone, annotated joke books and piles of sketch ideas.

From BBC

Finally, Ai-Da chose three of the paintings to combine into the final portrait.

From NewsForKids.net

A subtle camera push heightens the alluring atmosphere that paints a portrait of quintessential Joker: juxtaposing beauty with anarchy.

From Los Angeles Times

A gorgeous, generous portrait of a city and its people, it more than earns the accolade.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• account
• characterization
• depiction
• figure
• image
• likeness
• model
• painting
• photograph
• picture
• portrayal
• profile
• silhouette
• sketch
• snapshot
• vignette