picturesque

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌpɪkt͡ʃəˈɹɛsk/ See IPA manual

Freq #26011

Meanings

1

adj
Very pretty and charming, especially in an old-fashioned way; like something in a painting.

We stayed in a picturesque village surrounded by green hills.
2

adj
Using strong, colourful, and vivid language.

He gave a picturesque description of his travels through the desert.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

quaint scenic

Word family

Forms picturesqueness

Derived forms picturesquelypicturesquenesspicturesquishunpicturesque

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

picturesque village
a small rural settlement whose appearance is especially pretty and charming

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Picturesque entered English in the early 18th century and ultimately belongs to the family of Latin pictor, “painter.” Its spelling was altered under the influence of picture.

Etymology

From picture + -esque, a calque of French pittoresque, from picture (“a picture, painting”).

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# picturesque

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌpɪkt͡ʃəˈɹɛsk/
**Frequency rank:** 26011

## Meanings
1. Very pretty and charming, especially in an old-fashioned way; like something in a painting.
2. Using strong, colourful, and vivid language.

## Examples
- We stayed in a picturesque village surrounded by green hills.
- He gave a picturesque description of his travels through the desert.

## Synonyms
- quaint
- scenic

## Derived Forms
- picturesquely
- picturesqueness
- picturesquish
- unpicturesque

## Roots and Affixes
- Affix: -esque - in the style of

## Etymology
From picture + -esque, a calque of French pittoresque, from picture (“a picture, painting”).

## AI Etymology
Picturesque comes from picture + -esque, a calque of French pittoresque, from picture (“a picture, painting”). In present-day English it covers very pretty and charming, especially in an old-fashioned way; like something in a painting and using strong, colourful, and vivid language. The wider family includes derived forms such as picturesquely, picturesqueness, picturesquish, unpicturesque.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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