moving picture: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Archaic, Historical
Quick answer
What does “moving picture” mean?
A film, movie.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A film, movie; a story or event recorded as a series of images to be shown on a screen.
A general term for motion pictures as an art form, industry, or form of entertainment; historically used to describe early films, now sometimes used archaically or in formal contexts to refer to cinema.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Slight preference for 'film' (UK) and 'movie' (US) in modern usage, but 'moving picture' itself is equally archaic in both dialects. The term 'motion picture' is more common in formal American contexts (e.g., Academy Awards).
Connotations
Conveys a sense of historical context or technical description. In the UK, it may sound slightly more quaint; in the US, it may sound deliberately formal or evocative of early Hollywood.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in contemporary speech and writing in both regions. It appears most often in historical texts, museum exhibits, or as part of proper names (e.g., 'Museum of the Moving Image').
Grammar
How to Use “moving picture” in a Sentence
the [ADJ] moving pictureinvention of the moving picturesee/watch a moving pictureVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moving picture” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A – primarily a noun compound.
American English
- N/A – primarily a noun compound.
adverb
British English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A – not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The moving-picture industry began in the late 19th century.
American English
- He worked in moving-picture production before the talkies.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in a historical company name like 'British Moving Picture Company'.
Academic
Used in film studies or media history to discuss the origins of cinema.
Everyday
Virtually never used; would sound odd or deliberately old-fashioned.
Technical
Can appear in patents or technical descriptions of film/photography technology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moving picture”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moving picture”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moving picture”
- Using it in modern conversation, confusing it with 'moving image' (a broader digital media term), incorrect plural ('moving pictures' is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In meaning, yes, but 'moving picture' is an archaic term. 'Movie' is the common modern word, especially in American English.
Only if you are writing about the historical context of film. For contemporary discussion, use 'film' or 'movie'.
The standard plural is 'moving pictures'.
It describes the fundamental technology: a series of still pictures shown in rapid succession to create the illusion of motion.
A film, movie.
Moving picture is usually formal, archaic, historical in register.
Moving picture: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmuːvɪŋ ˈpɪktʃə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmuːvɪŋ ˈpɪktʃər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “the magic of the moving picture”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the first time pictures MOVED on a screen – that was a MOVING PICTURE.
Conceptual Metaphor
TIME IS MOTION (the pictures move through time).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'moving picture' MOST appropriate today?