noun
Very common
pictures
PIHK-shuhz
Pictures (noun) means the cinema, or a trip to see a film (chiefly British, slightly dated). Example: “Grandad used to take Mum to the pictures every Saturday when they were young.”
noun
1
The cinema, or a trip to see a film (chiefly British, slightly dated).
"Grandad used to take Mum to the pictures every Saturday when they were young."
"Fancy a night at the pictures after tea?"
"We're going to the pictures on Friday night."
How to use pictures
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn informal British way of referring to the cinema.
When to use it
Somewhat old-fashioned in British English; "the movies" is more common in American English.
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Grandad used to take Mum to the _____ every Saturday when they were young.
Synonyms
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the cinema
the movies
the flicks
the big screen
the silver screen
Related words
Rhymes for pictures
See all rhymes for pictures →Frequently asked questions
What does “pictures” mean?
The word “pictures” means the cinema, or a trip to see a film (chiefly British, slightly dated). In plain terms, an informal British way of referring to the cinema.
How do you pronounce “pictures”?
“Pictures” is pronounced PIHK-shuhz (/ˈpɪk.(t)ʃɚz/ in IPA).
How do you use “pictures” in a sentence?
Here is “pictures” used in a sentence: “We're going to the pictures on Friday night.”
What part of speech is “pictures”?
“Pictures” is a noun.
Is “pictures” a common word?
“Pictures” is a very common word in modern English.
What does going to the pictures mean?
"Going to the pictures" is a chiefly British expression meaning going to the cinema to watch a film. It dates from the era of "moving pictures" and now sounds slightly old-fashioned. Younger speakers tend to say "the cinema" or "the movies," but the phrase is still widely understood.
Is pictures British or American English?
In the sense of the cinema, "the pictures" is British and somewhat dated. Americans say "the movies" instead. Both phrases come from early cinema, when films were called "moving pictures." The British "pictures" and American "movies" are direct equivalents for a trip out to watch a film.
What is the difference between the pictures and the movies?
They mean the same thing: going out to watch a film at the cinema. "The pictures" is the traditional British phrase, now slightly dated, while "the movies" is the American equivalent. The choice between them is a matter of regional dialect rather than any difference in meaning.
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