portrait

[ˈpɔːtrət]

portrait Definition

a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, especially one depicting only the face or head and shoulders.

Using portrait: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "portrait" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    The museum has a collection of famous portraits.

  • Example

    She commissioned an artist to paint her portrait.

  • Example

    The photographer specializes in portraits of children.

  • Example

    The book provides a fascinating portrait of life in the city.

portrait Synonyms and Antonyms

Phrases with portrait

  • self-portrait

    a portrait that an artist produces of themselves

    Example

    Van Gogh painted many self-portraits throughout his life.

  • a feature on a camera or smartphone that focuses on the subject's face and blurs the background

    Example

    I love taking pictures in portrait mode because it makes the subject stand out.

  • a collection of portraits, usually of famous people

    Example

    The National Portrait Gallery in London has portraits of many British monarchs.

Origins of portrait

from Old French 'portraire', meaning 'to depict'

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Summary: portrait in Brief

A 'portrait' [ˈpɔːtrət] is a painting, drawing, photograph, or engraving of a person, often depicting only the face or head and shoulders. It can be a self-portrait, like those painted by Van Gogh, or a portrait of someone else, like those found in a portrait gallery. The term also extends to features like 'portrait mode' on cameras and smartphones.

How do native speakers use this expression?