pictograph

noun
pic·​to·​graph | \ ˈpik-tə-ˌgraf How to pronounce pictograph (audio) \

Definition of pictograph

1 : an ancient or prehistoric drawing or painting on a rock wall
2 : one of the symbols belonging to a pictorial graphic system
3 : a diagram representing statistical data by pictorial forms

Keep scrolling for more

Other Words from pictograph

pictographic \ ˌpik-​tə-​ˈgra-​fik How to pronounce pictographic (audio) \ adjective

Examples of pictograph in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Roche-a-Cri has ancient pictographs from the ancestors of the local Ho-Chunk, who carved arrows, birds, figures, canoes and more into the rock, and used it to track astronomical events and local life. Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, "Eight Spots in the United States Where You Can See Petroglyphs," 18 July 2019 They were then shown an intentionally ambiguous image—in this case, a Chinese pictograph. Alexandra Sifferlin, Time, "Here’s Why You Get Hangry, According to Science," 11 June 2018 Petroglyphs are pecked, engraved or polished designs on rock; pictographs are painted or drawn designs on rock. 60. azcentral, "From climate to fry bread, 125 reasons to love Arizona," 15 May 2015 The mural's diamonds, pinwheels, cubes and pictographs suggest a freestyle Native American rug, its trails of dripping ink like loose, dangling threads. Leah Ollman, latimes.com, "For Nathan Hayden at CB1 Gallery, the smaller the canvas, the bigger the effect," 13 Mar. 2018 Roche-a-Cri State Park, Friendship This park in central Wisconsin protects one of the only spots in the state for the public to see petroglyphs and pictographs. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "5 Wisconsin state parks with bargain rates for campers this summer," 1 Mar. 2018 Occasionally, two or three of Baras’ roughly hewn pictographs on burlap, wood and canvas appear to be shouting across the gallery. David Pagel, latimes.com, "How Yevgeniya Baras' pictographs carry a language all their own," 5 Feb. 2018 As the 4,000-year-old pictographs still visible along its steep canyon walls attest, it is saturated in history. Stephen Harrigan, New York Times, "An Unconventional History of Texas, From a Writer With the State in His Veins," 5 Jan. 2018 At Flag Point in southern Utah, for example, Native Americans chiseled pictographs of three-toed footprints, inspired by dinosaur tracks in the surrounding Jurassic rock. Brian Switek, Smithsonian, "What Makes a Dinosaur a Dinosaur?," 8 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pictograph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

See More

First Known Use of pictograph

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for pictograph

Latin pictus + English -o- + -graph

Keep scrolling for more

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for pictograph

pictograph

noun
pic·​to·​graph | \ ˈpik-tə-ˌgraf How to pronounce pictograph (audio) \

Kids Definition of pictograph

1 : an ancient or prehistoric drawing or painting on a rock wall
2 : a diagram showing information by means of pictures