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Verb: portray  por'trey or pu(r)'trey
  1. Describe in words
    "The book portrays the actor as a selfish person"
     
  2. (art) make a portrait of
    "Goya wanted to portray his mistress, the Duchess of Alba";
    - depict, limn
     
  3. (performing arts) assume or act the character of
    "The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man";
    - impersonate
     
  4. (art) represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture
    "The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting";
    - present

Derived forms: portrayed, portrays, portraying

Type of: act, interpret, play, represent