Photo

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈfəʊ.təʊ/

Definitions

1. An image created through the capturing of light on a sensitive medium that visually represents a moment in time
2. A visual representation produced by capturing light onto a light-sensitive surface that depicts a specific scene or subject matter
3. An image formed by the recording of light rays on a medium that allows for the reproduction of visual experiences

Etymology: The root "phōs," meaning "light," comes from an ancient Greek word that traces back to a very old Indo-European base for shining. In Greek, "phōs" combined with "graphō," "to write" or "to draw," to form "photographia" and its relatives. The result was a term for drawing with light, which is exactly what early photography did: light striking a chemically treated surface left an image behind. English took the Greek elements and assembled them into "photograph," and "photo" is simply a clipped form of that longer word. The "-graph" ending keeps its original sense of writing or drawing, so the word literally describes light writing itself.

Synonyms: picture, image, snapshot, photograph, portrait