Pictographic: meaning, definitions and examples

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pictographic

 

[ ˌpɪktəˈɡræfɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

visual representation

Pictographic refers to a visual representation of concepts or ideas through pictures or symbols. It is often used in reference to writing systems that use images to convey meaning rather than alphabetic characters.

Synonyms

graphic, illustrative, symbolic

Examples of usage

  • The ancient Egyptians used pictographic writing in their hieroglyphics.
  • Many users find pictographic interfaces easier to navigate.
  • In this book, the author utilizes pictographic illustrations to enhance understanding.

Translations

Translations of the word "pictographic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 pictográfico

🇮🇳 चित्रात्मक

🇩🇪 piktografisch

🇮🇩 piktografis

🇺🇦 піктографічний

🇵🇱 piktograficzny

🇯🇵 絵文字の

🇫🇷 pictographique

🇪🇸 pictográfico

🇹🇷 piktografik

🇰🇷 픽토그래픽

🇸🇦 رمزي

🇨🇿 piktografický

🇸🇰 piktografický

🇨🇳 象形的

🇸🇮 piktografski

🇮🇸 myndrænt

🇰🇿 пиктографиялық

🇬🇪 პიქტოგრაფიული

🇦🇿 piktoqrafik

🇲🇽 pictográfico

Etymology

The term 'pictographic' derives from the Latin roots 'pictus', which means 'painted' or 'depicted', and 'graphos', which denotes 'writing' or 'drawing'. Pictographs have served as essential communication tools throughout human history, predating written language by thousands of years. Early forms of pictographic writing can be traced back to prehistoric times, where cave paintings and symbols conveyed stories and information. Over time, cultures such as the Sumerians and Ancient Egyptians developed more formalized pictographic scripts, paving the way for the evolution of complex writing systems that include both phonetic and logographic elements. Today, the concept of pictographic communication has expanded into various fields, including education, art, and digital user interfaces, emphasizing the universal power of images in conveying meaning.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #35,820, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.