DEPICTION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does depiction mean? 

• DEPICTION (noun)
  The noun DEPICTION has 4 senses:

1. a graphic or vivid verbal description

2. a representation by picture or portraiture

3. a drawing of the outlines of forms or objects

4. representation by drawing or painting etc

  Familiarity information: DEPICTION used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DEPICTION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A graphic or vivid verbal description

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

characterisation; characterization; delineation; depiction; picture; word-painting; word picture

Context example:

the pamphlet contained brief characterizations of famous Vermonters

Hypernyms ("depiction" is a kind of...):

description; verbal description (a statement that represents something in words)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "depiction"):

epithet (descriptive word or phrase)

portrait; portraiture; portrayal (a word picture of a person's appearance and character)

Derivation:

depict (give a description of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A representation by picture or portraiture

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

depicting; depiction; portrayal; portraying

Hypernyms ("depiction" is a kind of...):

representational process (any basic cognitive process in which some entity comes to stand for or represent something else)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "depiction"):

mirror (a faithful depiction or reflection)

Derivation:

depict (make a portrait of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A drawing of the outlines of forms or objects

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

delineation; depiction; limning; line drawing

Hypernyms ("depiction" is a kind of...):

drawing (a representation of forms or objects on a surface by means of lines)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "depiction"):

animalization (a depiction in the form of an animal)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Representation by drawing or painting etc

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

delineation; depiction; portrayal

Hypernyms ("depiction" is a kind of...):

pictorial representation; picturing (visual representation as by photography or painting)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "depiction"):

portraiture (the activity of making portraits)

Derivation:

depict (show in, or as in, a picture)

 Context examples 

A visual depiction of a survival function for survival data consisting of a series of horizontal steps of declining magnitude plotted against time.

(Kaplan Meier Survival Plot, NCI Thesaurus)

The common depiction of these animals in cartoons and movies and as toys has led to what the authors call virtual populations — people believe the animals are not at risk of extinction in the wild because they appear to be everywhere.

(Study: Popularity of Wildlife Can Harm Public's Perception, VOA)