a picture, such as a painting, drawing, or photograph, that shows what a person looks like, usually focusing on the face and shoulders
In the art gallery, a young woman gazed at a centuries-old portrait of a queen.
A street artist sketched my portrait in charcoal while tourists watched.
✦ Late 14th c. from Old French “portraire” meaning “to depict.” Initially referred to painted likenesses, later expanding to photographs.
a detailed written or spoken description of a person, place, or situation
The biography offers a vivid portrait of the scientist’s early life.
The documentary painted a bleak portrait of life during the war.
✦ Transferred sense from visual depiction to verbal depiction began in the 17th c., keeping the idea of capturing a likeness.
page or screen orientation that is taller than it is wide
Before printing, set the document to portrait instead of landscape.
The smartphone automatically switches to portrait when held upright.
✦ Adopted in printing and computing in the late 20th c., comparing the tall page layout to a traditional painted portrait.
