Definition

Noun: A moving picture is a visual medium that presents a story or narrative through a rapid sequence of individual still images, which, when shown in succession, create the optical illusion of continuous motion. It is a form of entertainment and art, typically accompanied by sound.

Usage

The term "moving picture" is a formal and somewhat historical term for what is now more commonly called a "film" or "movie." It directly describes the core technology of the medium: pictures that move. * It is used as a countable noun. * It can be used in both singular ("a moving picture") and plural ("moving pictures") forms.

Examples

• The invention of the moving picture revolutionized entertainment in the early 20th century.
• Early moving pictures were silent and shown in black and white.
• He is a scholar who studies the history of the moving picture.

Advanced Usage

• "The moving picture industry": A formal term for the film or cinema business.
  • She has worked in the moving picture industry for over thirty years.
• The phrase can be used attributively (like an adjective) before another noun.
  • They attended a lecture on moving picture technology.

Variants and Related Words

• Movie (n.): The most common and informal synonym.
• Film (n.): A common synonym, often used in both formal and informal contexts; also refers to the physical medium.
• Motion picture (n.): A formal, full-term synonym, frequently used in official contexts like awards (e.g., Academy Award for Best Motion Picture).
• Cinema (n.): Can refer to the art form, the industry, or the theater where films are shown.
• Flick (n.): A very informal, old-fashioned slang term for a movie.

Synonyms

• Film
• Movie
• Motion picture
• Picture (as in "motion picture")

Idioms and Phrases

• "The magic of the moving picture": A phrase used to describe the captivating and illusory power of cinema.
  • The director's work truly captures the magic of the moving picture.

Noun

1. a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
   • they went to a movie every Saturday night
   • the film was shot on location