graphic

¹

[ graf-ik ]

adjective

1. giving a clear and effective picture; vivid:

   a graphic account of an earthquake.

   Synonyms: detailed, telling, striking

2. pertaining to the use of diagrams, graphs, mathematical curves, or the like; diagrammatic.
3. of, relating to, or expressed by writing:

   graphic symbols.

4. written, inscribed, or drawn.
5. depicted in a realistic or vivid manner:

   graphic sex and violence.

6. containing graphic descriptions:

   a graphic movie.

7. Geology. (of a rock) having a texture formed by the intergrowth of certain minerals so as to resemble written characters.
8. Mathematics. pertaining to the determination of values, solution of problems, etc., by direct measurement on diagrams instead of by ordinary calculations.
9. of or relating to the graphic arts.

noun

1. a product of the graphic arts, as a drawing or print.
2. a computer-generated image.

-graphic

²

1. a combination of -graph and -ic, forming adjectives corresponding to nouns ending in -graph:

   telegraphic.

graphic

/ ˈɡræfɪk /

adjective

1. vividly or clearly described

   a graphic account of the disaster

2. sexually explicit
3. of or relating to writing or other inscribed representations

   graphic symbols

4. maths using, relating to, or determined by a graph

   a graphic representation of the figures

5. of or relating to the graphic arts
6. geology having or denoting a texture formed by intergrowth of the crystals to resemble writing

   graphic granite

Derived Forms

• ˈgraphicalness, noun
• ˈgraphically, adverb

Other Words From

• graphi·cal·ly adverb
• graphi·cal·ness graphic·ness noun
• non·graphic adjective
• non·graphi·cal adjective
• non·graphi·cal·ly adverb
• non·graphi·cal·ness noun
• un·graphic adjective
• un·graphi·cal adjective
• un·graphi·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of graphic¹

First recorded in 1630–40; from Latin graphicus “of painting or drawing,” from Greek graphikós “able to draw or paint,” equivalent to gráph(ein) “to draw, write” + -ikos -ic; cognate with carve

Word History and Origins

Origin of graphic¹

C17: from Latin graphicus, from Greek graphikos, from graphein to write; see carve

Synonym Study

See picturesque.

Example Sentences

Models purposefully walked down the runway in flowing suits of crushed velvet and satin, matching leather mini-shorts and jackets, sequined hot pants and tank top sets in yellow smiley graphics and graffiti print.

From Los Angeles Times

And Mbuya’s personal favourite - jeans, a graphic T-shirt with her image on the front and a blonde wig.

From BBC

Worcester Crown Court heard graphic details of the suffering experienced by young macaques in Indonesia - with the footage sold to people around the world.

From BBC

There are a few elements on the chair that I had asked them to find, like there’s a logo shirt that they helped me source that was the main graphic for the Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times

The tour news comes after MCR on Monday dropped a cryptic graphic on its social channels, captioned, “If you could be anything, what would you be?”

From Los Angeles Times