pictorial

[ pik-tawr-ee-uhl, -tohr-ee-uhl ]

adjective

1. pertaining to, expressed in, or of the nature of a picture.
2. illustrated by or containing pictures:

   a pictorial history.

3. of or relating to the art of painting and drawing pictures, the pictures themselves, or their makers:

   the pictorial masterpieces of the Renaissance.

4. having or suggesting the visual appeal or imagery of a picture:

   a pictorial metaphor.

   Synonyms: telling, striking, vivid, picturesque

noun

1. a periodical in which pictures constitute an important feature.
2. a magazine feature that is primarily photographic.

pictorial

/ pɪkˈtɔːrɪəl /

adjective

1. relating to, consisting of, or expressed by pictures
2. (of books, newspapers, etc) containing pictures
3. of or relating to painting or drawing
4. (of language, style, etc) suggesting a picture; vivid; graphic

noun

1. 1. a magazine, newspaper, etc, containing many pictures
   2. ( capital when part of a name )

      the Sunday Pictorial

Derived Forms

• picˈtorially, adverb

Other Words From

• pic·tori·al·ly adverb
• pic·tori·al·ness noun
• nonpic·tori·al adjective
• nonpic·tori·al·ly adverb
• semi·pic·tori·al adjective
• semi·pic·tori·al·ly adverb
• unpic·tori·al adjective
• unpic·tori·al·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of pictorial¹

1640–50; < Latin pictōri ( us ) of painting ( pic- , variant stem of pingere to paint + -tōrius -tory ¹ ) + -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of pictorial¹

C17: from Late Latin pictōrius, from Latin pictor painter, from pingere to paint

Example Sentences

Last year, the King hailed new portraits of the Windrush generation, including Mr Gardner, as pictorial records of a "very special" group of people.

From BBC

They blended and transformed pictorial conventions, introduced new artistic traditions, and shaped the visual tastes of diverse audiences, ranging from scholars to tourists.

From BBC

The video’s extreme slow-motion creates anticipation in a viewer, while the pictorial movement yields a desire to leisurely examine the image in a manner more akin to looking at paintings than at traditional camerawork.

From Los Angeles Times

Sometimes the pictorial setting is layered into the exhibition’s physical installation.

From Los Angeles Times

In case the pictorial story of crossing a Rubicon was not enough, the blunt text declared, “The fact that the world art center has shifted from Paris to New York is acknowledged on every hand.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• descriptive
• illustrated
• photographic
• visual
• vivid