Meaning & use
pic
Last updated
UK/pɪk/
US/pɪk/
Meaning
nouncountableinformal
A photograph or image, especially one shared casually online or by text.
Grammar: Countable; plural is 'pics'. Common in informal writing and speech.
Patterns
- send a pic
- post a pic
- take a pic
- a pic of someone/something
She sent me a pic of her new puppy.
I'll post a pic of the sunset on Instagram.
Can you take a pic of us in front of the fountain?
Word forms
| plural | pics |
|---|
Common combinations
- send a pic
- Send me a pic when you get there.
- post a pic
- He posted a pic of his lunch on social media.
- take a pic
- Let's take a pic together before we leave.
- a pic of something
- I saw a pic of the new phone online.
Synonyms and how they differ
- photo
- Photo is standard and acceptable in most contexts; pic is more casual and common in texting and social media.
- picture
- Picture can refer to any image, including drawings and paintings; pic usually means a photograph.
- snap
- Snap is British informal for a quick photograph; pic is more general and used in both American and British English.
Commonly confused: pic or pic vs. pick?
pic vs pic vs. pick
Pic is a shortened form of 'picture'; pick means to choose or a tool. They sound the same but have different meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'pic' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Pic' is an informal noun meaning a photograph or image. Only option A uses it as a noun. The other options incorrectly use 'pic' as a verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “pic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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