graphic

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈɡɹæfɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #11586

Meanings

1

adj
Very clear and detailed, especially in describing something unpleasant like sex or violence.

The film was banned because of its graphic violence.
2

adj
Relating to drawing, design, or visual art.

She works as a graphic designer for a magazine.
3

noun
A picture or image, especially one created by a computer.

The graphics in this new game are amazing.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to drawing,... graphical

Word family

Related forms graphical

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

graphic symbol
a written or drawn sign used to represent speech

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Graphic, recorded in the mid-17th century in the expression graphic art, ultimately derives from Greek graphein, “to write.” The same root lies behind diagram and graphite.

Etymology

From Latin graphicus (“belonging to painting or drawing”), from Ancient Greek γραφικός (graphikós, “belonging to painting or drawing, picturesque, of or for writing; of style, lively”), from γραφή (graphḗ, “drawing, painting, writing, a writing, description, etc.”), from γράφω (gráphō, “scratch, carve”) (cognate with English carve).

*gerbʰ- Proto-Indo-European graphicus Latin γραφικός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# graphic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡɹæfɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 11586

## Meanings
1. Very clear and detailed, especially in describing something unpleasant like sex or violence.
2. Relating to drawing, design, or visual art.
3. A picture or image, especially one created by a computer.

## Examples
- The film was banned because of its graphic violence.
- She works as a graphic designer for a magazine.
- The graphics in this new game are amazing.

## Related Forms
- graphical

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *gerbʰ-
- Root: graphicus
- Root: γραφικός

## Etymology
From Latin graphicus (“belonging to painting or drawing”), from Ancient Greek γραφικός (graphikós, “belonging to painting or drawing, picturesque, of or for writing; of style, lively”), from γραφή (graphḗ, “drawing, painting, writing, a writing, description, etc.”), from γράφω (gráphō, “scratch, carve”) (cognate with English carve).

## AI Etymology
Graphic comes from Latin graphicus (“belonging to painting or drawing”), from Ancient Greek γραφικός (graphikós, “belonging to painting or drawing, picturesque, of or for writing; of style, lively”), from γραφή (graphḗ, “drawing, painting, writing, a writing, description, etc.”), from γράφω (gráphō, “scratch, carve”) (cognate with English carve). The historical line also includes *gerbʰ- (Proto-Indo-European). In current use, the main senses are “Very clear and detailed, especially in describing something unpleasant like sex or violence” and “Relating to drawing, design, or visual art”.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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