Photographs: meaning, definitions and examples

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photographs

 

[ ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf ]

Noun / Verb
Context #1 | Noun

capturing moments

Photographs are images taken with a camera, typically printed on paper or displayed digitally, capturing moments, memories, and emotions.

Synonyms

images, pictures, snaps.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
photographs

Used in formal contexts and professional settings. Often refers to pictures taken with a camera and printed or shared digitally.

  • The artist displayed her beautiful photographs at the gallery.
  • I need to get some photographs taken for my passport.
pictures

More casual and versatile. Can refer to drawings, paintings, and photographs. Often used in everyday conversation.

  • Do you want to see the pictures from my vacation?
  • He has a picture of his family on his desk.
images

Can refer to both photos and graphic representations. Commonly used in digital contexts or when discussing the visual representation of something.

  • She searched the internet for images of the Eiffel Tower.
  • The website is taking forever to load images.
snaps

Informal and casual. Often used to refer to quick, spontaneous photos taken with a phone or camera. Sometimes has a playful or lighthearted connotation.

  • She took some funny snaps at the party last night.
  • He loves to share snaps of his cat on social media.

Examples of usage

  • I love looking at old photographs of my family.
  • She has a talent for taking breathtaking photographs of landscapes.
Context #2 | Verb

taking pictures

To photograph means to take pictures using a camera, capturing moments and scenes.

Synonyms

shoot, snap, take pictures.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
photographs

Formal context, typically used in professional settings or to describe artistic images.

  • The photographer's photographs were displayed in the gallery.
  • She has a collection of beautiful photographs from her travels.
take pictures

General usage, suitable for most contexts whether casual or formal. It is widely understood and neutral in tone.

  • I love to take pictures when I'm on vacation.
  • She takes pictures of her family every holiday.
snap

Casual, often spontaneous situations. It can imply quick or candid photos. It sometimes has a playful or informal tone.

  • He snapped a picture of his dog chasing its tail.
  • I managed to snap a few good shots at the concert.
shoot

Used in professional photography or film-making contexts. It also implies a planned session.

  • We have a photo shoot scheduled for tomorrow.
  • The model arrived early for the shoot.

Examples of usage

  • He likes to photograph wildlife in their natural habitat.
  • She photographed the sunset beautifully.

Translations

Translations of the word "photographs" in other languages:

🇵🇹 fotografias

🇮🇳 फोटोग्राफ़

🇩🇪 Fotografien

🇮🇩 foto

🇺🇦 фотографії

🇵🇱 fotografie

🇯🇵 写真 (しゃしん)

🇫🇷 photographies

🇪🇸 fotografías

🇹🇷 fotoğraflar

🇰🇷 사진 (sajin)

🇸🇦 صور (ṣuwar)

🇨🇿 fotografie

🇸🇰 fotografie

🇨🇳 照片 (zhàopiàn)

🇸🇮 fotografije

🇮🇸 ljósmyndir

🇰🇿 фотосуреттер

🇬🇪 ფოტოები (p'otoebi)

🇦🇿 fotolar

🇲🇽 fotografías

Etymology

The word 'photograph' originated from the combination of two Greek words: 'phōs' meaning light and 'graphē' meaning drawing or writing. The first permanent photograph was created by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce in 1826, marking the beginning of photography as we know it today. Since then, photography has evolved significantly with the advancements in technology.

See also: photographing.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,628, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.