picture-book
UK[ˈpɪktʃə bʊk]US[ˈpɪktʃər bʊk]
n
A book for children that uses pictures as a primary means of telling the story or conveying information.
Morpheme Breakdown
picture
book
picture
image
book
bound pages
Etymology
The compound "picture-book" is a transparent English formation, combining two native concepts. "Picture" entered English via Old French from Latin pictura, which itself derives from the verb pingere, meaning "to paint," reflecting the original art of creating images. "Book" has a deeply Germanic origin, tracing back to the Proto-Germanic word for a beechwood tablet, an early writing surface. The compound logically describes a book whose primary content is pictures, a format that became especially significant with the rise of commercial printing and literacy for children in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Analysis
Structure: picture (image) + book (bound pages)
- picture: From Latin pictura (painting), from pingere (to paint). Functions as a noun modifier.
- book: From Old English bōc (book, writing), from Proto-Germanic bōks (beech tablet). Functions as the core noun.
Examples
The library has a large section dedicated to classic children's picture-books.
She spent the afternoon reading a colorful picture-book to her toddler.
The author-illustrator is renowned for her beautifully detailed picture-books.