diːlɪniˈeɪʃən ˈpɔːtɹeɪt ˈpɔɹtɹeɪt ˈpɔː(ɹ)tɹɪtjʊə(ɹ) ˌpɔɹˈtɹeɪ.əl acting the part of a character on stage; dramatically representing the character by speech and action and gesture representation by drawing or painting etc any likeness of a person, in any medium the photographer made excellent portraits a representation by picture or portraiture a word picture of a person's appearance and character