Pics

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /pɪks/

Definitions

1. Visual representations produced by a camera or other imaging device; informal term for photographs or images shared digitally or in print ; colloquial abbreviation for pictures often used in casual writing or conversation
2. Electronic or physical photographs captured to depict scenes, objects, or people ; a casual, shortened expression for photographic images typically exchanged on social media or messaging platforms ; informal term denoting visual media usually in photo form
3. Images created by capturing light on film or digital sensors ; commonly used informal word for snapshots or visual depictions ; short form for any kind of photographic content typically used in everyday speech or informal text communication

Etymology: "Pics" is the plural of "pic," a clipped form of "pictures." The shortening of "picture" to "pic" is a典型 pattern of English clipping, where a longer word is cut down to its first syllable in everyday speech. "Picture" itself traces back through Old French "pictura" to the Latin "pingere," meaning "to paint," so the clipped form keeps a link to the idea of painting or drawing, even though most people using it today are thinking of photographs. The clipping of "picture" to "pic" is recorded in the early twentieth century, when the word came into use, particularly in American English, for motion pictures and then for photographs. Its plural "pics" follows the regular English pattern of adding an "s" to form plurals.

Synonyms: pictures, photos, images, photographs