pic

pic — noun

1. an informal word for a photo or other camera-made still image.

1.nounA2
Definition

an informal word for a photo or other camera-made still image.

Example

Maya posted a pic of her lunch before the first bite.

a pic of + thing

Ben sent me a pic from the night market after the rain.

send somebody a pic

Common collocations
  • post a pic
  • send someone a pic
  • a pic of
  • school pic
  • team pic
Synonyms
  • photo

    the usual everyday short form and less slangy than 'pic'

  • photograph

    the full form, more suitable in careful or formal writing

  • picture

    broader word that can also mean a drawing or painting

  • snapshot

    suggests a quick, informal photo

Grammar Patterns

a pic of [person/place/thing]

send somebody a pic

post a pic

Usage Note

Mostly used in casual speech, texts, and online posts. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense means a still image, not a movie.

Common Mistakes

Please attach a pic to your passport form.
Please attach a photograph to your passport form.
official or formal writing usually avoids the very casual word 'pic'.

2. an informal word for a movie, especially in relaxed talk about entertainment.

2.nounB2
Definition

an informal word for a movie, especially in relaxed talk about entertainment.

Example

Dad rented an old cowboy pic for Saturday night.

watch/rent a pic

The critic said the new space pic felt twenty minutes too long.

genre noun + pic

Common collocations
  • watch a pic
  • cowboy pic
  • space pic
  • comedy pic
  • horror pic
Synonyms
  • movie

    the usual everyday word in American English

  • film

    more neutral and often preferred in reviews or formal contexts

  • flick

    another informal word, often playful

Grammar Patterns

watch a pic

a [genre] pic

see a pic

Usage Note

Mostly heard in very casual speech and sometimes in older entertainment talk. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense refers to a full film, not a single image.

Common Mistakes

The festival will show many exciting pics by young directors.
The festival will show many exciting films by young directors.
'pic' for a movie is very casual, so formal writing usually uses 'film' or 'movie'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For a still camera image, 'pic' is the most casual choice and is common in messages, captions, and everyday talk: 'Send me a pic.' 'Photo' is also informal, but it sounds more neutral and works in more situations. 'Photograph' is the fullest form and fits careful writing, labels, or formal instructions better. 'Picture' is broader, because it can also mean a drawing or painting, not only a camera image. 'Snapshot' often suggests a quick, unplanned photo rather than a carefully arranged one. Compare: 'Nina posted a pic from lunch,' but 'The gallery displayed a photograph from 1932.'

photo ↗photograph ↗picture ↗snapshot ↗

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Pic began as a shortened informal form of picture in English in the late nineteenth century. Later, because movie was once often said as moving picture, the short form pic also came to mean a film. The older word picture reached English through French from Latin words connected with painting and making images.