How Do You Spell PORTRAIT?

Pronunciation: [pˈɔːtɹe͡ɪt] (IPA)

The word "portrait" is spelled with the letter "a" before the letter "i." In IPA phonetic transcription, this is represented as /ˈpɔː.trət/. The first syllable is pronounced with an open "o" sound followed by the letter "r" and then an "t" sound. The second syllable contains the letter "a" before the letter "i," which is pronounced as a long "e" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a soft "t" sound. This spelling can help differentiate the word from "portraiture," which refers to the art of creating portraits.

PORTRAIT Meaning and Definition

  1. A portrait is a visual representation or image of a person, typically depicting their face and often focusing on their upper body. It is a form of art that aims to capture the physical appearance, likeness, character, or personality of an individual. Portraits have been created throughout history using various artistic mediums, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, and more recently, digital art.

    In a portrait, the subject is usually the central focus, occupying the majority of the frame. The artist employs techniques such as composition, lighting, color, and texture to convey a sense of the subject's mood, emotions, and individuality. This form of artwork can be both realistic and stylized, ranging from highly detailed and lifelike representations to more abstract or impressionistic interpretations.

    Portraits have served numerous purposes throughout time, fulfilling cultural, religious, historical, commemorative, and personal roles. They can be created as commissioned works or as self-portraits by the artist themselves. Portraits also serve as a means of documentation, preserving a visual record of individuals and their societal roles, as well as reflecting societal norms, values, and aesthetics.

    In modern times, the definition of a portrait has expanded beyond traditional representations to include unconventional approaches. This includes multimedia installations, collage, and even digital avatars. Despite the wide range of techniques and styles, the essence of a portrait remains the visual depiction of an individual, offering a glimpse into their identity and capturing a moment in time.

  2. The representation of a person's face, with a part or the whole of the body, in water or oil colours, or traced with a pencil or crayon, and taken from the life; any vivid representation in words, as of a person.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Top Common Misspellings for PORTRAIT *

* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.

Other Common Misspellings for PORTRAIT

Etymology of PORTRAIT

The word "portrait" originates from the Old French word "portraire", which itself is derived from the Latin word "protrahere". "Protrahere" is a combination of the prefix "pro-" (meaning "forth" or "forward") and the verb "trahere" (meaning "to draw" or "to pull"). Therefore, the etymology suggests that the word "portrait" refers to something that is "drawn forth" or "pulled out". This describes the act of capturing a person's likeness or their essential qualities through a visual representation.

Idioms with the word PORTRAIT

  • sit for portrait The idiom "sit for a portrait" means to pose or sit still in a specific position for an artist or photographer to create a painted or photographic representation of oneself. It refers to the act of having one's likeness captured in a formal artistic manner.
  • sit for one's portrait The idiom "sit for one's portrait" means to pose for a portrait or painting. It refers to the act of sitting still and often patiently while an artist captures a visual representation of the person through art.

Similar spelling words for PORTRAIT

Plural form of PORTRAIT is PORTRAITS

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