photo

¹

[ foh-toh ]

noun

, plural pho·tos.

1. photograph.
2. Informal. photo finish.

photo-

²

1. a combining form meaning “light” ( photobiology ); also used to represent “photographic” or “photograph” in the formation of compound words:

   photocopy.

photo

¹

/ ˈfəʊtəʊ /

noun

1. short for photograph

photo-

²

combining_form

1. of, relating to, or produced by light

   photosynthesis

2. indicating a photographic process

   photolithography

photo–

1. A prefix that means “light,” as in photoreceptor.

Word History and Origins

Origin of photo¹

First recorded in 1855–60; shortened form of photograph

Origin of photo²

< Greek, combining form of phôs (genitive phōtós )

Word History and Origins

Origin of photo¹

from Greek phōs, phōt- light

Example Sentences

“Don’t worry,” replied another user on Xiaohongshu, a Chinese photo and video sharing app similar to Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

His grinning appearance in a Trump family photo taken at Mar-a-Lago on election night was weird, but made weirder by the fact that Melania was not in the picture.

From Los Angeles Times

Jurado waved at a mound of mementos around her dining room table gifted by volunteers and voters — scrapbooks, posters, artwork, photo collages — mixed in among thank-you cards that need to be mailed out.

From Los Angeles Times

Eventually, there’s a chance it winds up in the photo gallery of a Stake employee, where your content becomes an ad for the company.

From Slate

John Krasinski’s coronation as People’s Sexiest Man Alive on Tuesday included a celebratory cover story, a glamorous photo shoot — and the promise of more domestic duties.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• capture
• illustrate
• print
• reproduce
• shoot