picture-in-picture
UK[ˈpɪktʃər ɪn ˈpɪktʃər]US[ˈpɪktʃər ɪn ˈpɪktʃər]
n
A television or video feature that allows a second, smaller image to be displayed on the screen simultaneously with the main image.
n
The smaller image itself displayed in this manner.
Morpheme Breakdown
picture
in
picture
picture
in
picture
Etymology
The term is a modern compound formed by reduplication of the word "picture" around the preposition "in." The word "picture" itself originates from Latin pictura, derived from the verb pingere (to paint), which can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root peig- meaning "to cut, mark, or paint." The compound "picture-in-picture" is a descriptive, literal construction from the late 20th century, created to name a specific technological function in television and video displays. Its logic is transparent: it denotes one picture situated spatially within the boundaries of another picture, directly describing the visual arrangement it represents.
Analysis
Structure: picture + in + picture
- picture: From Latin pictura (the act of painting, a painting), from pingere (to paint). Functions as a noun meaning a visual representation.
- in: From Old English in (in, into, within). Functions as a preposition indicating location or inclusion.
- picture: (Same as above) Functions as a noun meaning a visual representation.
Examples
I watched the football game while keeping an eye on the news in picture-in-picture.
The new monitor supports a picture-in-picture mode for multitasking.
You can resize or move the picture-in-picture window anywhere on the screen.