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Portray vs. Picture — What's the Difference?

Portray vs. Picture — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Portray and Picture

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Portray

To depict or represent pictorially; make a picture of
The painter portrays a typical country scene.

Picture

A visual representation or image painted, drawn, photographed, or otherwise rendered on a flat surface.

Portray

To describe or represent in words
The author portrays the world of the fantastically wealthy.

Picture

A visible image, especially one on a flat surface or screen
The picture reflected in the lake.
Focused the picture on the movie screen.

Portray

To describe or depict in a certain way
The book portrays her as hardworking and driven.
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Picture

A vivid or realistic verbal description
A Shakespearean picture of guilt.

Portray

To represent dramatically, as on the stage
The actor portrays an obsessed lover in the film.

Picture

A vivid mental image.

Portray

To paint or draw the likeness of.
I will portray a king on horseback.

Picture

A person or object bearing a marked resemblance to another
She's the picture of her mother.

Portray

(figuratively) To represent by an image or look.

Picture

A person, object, or scene that typifies or embodies an emotion, state of mind, or mood
Your face was the very picture of horror.

Portray

(figuratively) To describe in words; to convey.

Picture

The chief circumstances of an event or time; the situation
How does the new boyfriend figure in the picture?.

Portray

To play a role; to depict a character, person, situation, or event.
For my next movie, I will be portraying Shakespeare.

Picture

A movie.

Portray

(obsolete) To adorn.

Picture

A tableau vivant.

Portray

To paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback.
Take a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem.

Picture

To make a visible representation of
In this photo, the mayor is pictured with several aides.

Portray

Hence, figuratively, to describe in words.

Picture

To form a mental image of; visualize
I pictured my grandfather as a young man coming to America.

Portray

To adorn with pictures.
Spear and helmets thronged, and shieldsVarious with boastful arguments potrayed.

Picture

To describe vividly in words; make a verbal picture of
Pictured their heroism in glowing language.

Portray

Portray in words;
The book portrays the actor as a selfish person

Picture

A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, by drawing, painting, printing, photography, etc.

Portray

Make a portrait of;
Goya wanted to portray his mistress, the Duchess of Alba

Picture

An image; a representation as in the imagination.

Portray

Assume or act the character of;
She impersonates Madonna
The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man

Picture

A painting.
There was a picture hanging above the fireplace.

Portray

Represent in a painting, drawing, sculpture, or verbally;
The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting

Picture

A photograph.
I took a picture of the church.

Picture

A motion picture.
Casablanca is my all-time favorite picture.

Picture

Cinema as a form of entertainment.
Let's go to the pictures.

Picture

A paragon, a perfect example or specimen (of a category).
She's the very picture of health.

Picture

An attractive sight.
The garden is a real picture at this time of year.

Picture

The art of painting; representation by painting.

Picture

A figure; a model.

Picture

Situation.
The employment picture for the older middle class is not so good.
You can't just look at the election, you've got to look at the big picture.

Picture

(MLE) A sample of an illegal drug.
If you want me to buy your weed I’ll need a picture.

Picture

(programming) A format string in the COBOL programming language.

Picture

(transitive) To represent in or with a picture.

Picture

(transitive) To imagine or envision.

Picture

(transitive) To depict or describe vividly.

Picture

The art of painting; representation by painting.
Any well-expressed image . . . either in picture or sculpture.

Picture

A representation of anything (as a person, a landscape, a building) upon canvas, paper, or other surface, produced by means of painting, drawing, engraving, photography, etc.; a representation in colors. By extension, a figure; a model.
Pictures and shapes are but secondary objects.
The young king's picture . . . in virgin wax.

Picture

An image or resemblance; a representation, either to the eye or to the mind; that which, by its likeness, brings vividly to mind some other thing; as, a child is the picture of his father; the man is the picture of grief.
My eyes make pictures when they are shut.

Picture

To draw or paint a resemblance of; to delineate; to represent; to form or present an ideal likeness of; to bring before the mind.
I have not seen him so pictured.

Picture

A visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface;
They showed us the pictures of their wedding
A movie is a series of images projected so rapidly that the eye integrates them

Picture

Graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface;
A small painting by Picasso
He bought the painting as an investment
His pictures hang in the Louvre

Picture

A clear and telling mental image;
He described his mental picture of his assailant
He had no clear picture of himself or his world
The events left a permanent impression in his mind

Picture

A situation treated as an observable object;
The political picture is favorable
The religious scene in England has changed in the last century

Picture

Illustrations used to decorate or explain a text;
The dictionary had many pictures

Picture

A form of entertainment that enacts a story by a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement;
They went to a movie every Saturday night
The film was shot on location

Picture

The visible part of a television transmission;
They could still receive the sound but the picture was gone

Picture

A graphic or vivid verbal description;
Too often the narrative was interrupted by long word pictures
The author gives a depressing picture of life in Poland
The pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters

Picture

A typical example of some state or quality;
The very picture of a modern general
She was the picture of despair

Picture

Imagine; conceive of; see in one's mind;
I can't see him on horseback!
I can see what will happen
I can see a risk in this strategy

Picture

Show in, or as in, a picture;
This scene depicts country life
The face of the child is rendered with much tenderness in this painting

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