motion picture

[moh-shuhn pik-cher]

noun

1. Movies.

   1. a sequence of consecutive still images photographed in a series by a specially designed camera motion-picture camera and thrown on a screen by a projector motion-picture projector in such rapid succession as to give the illusion of natural movement.

      Jean Cocteau produced some of the most innovative motion pictures of the postwar era.

   2. such a video sequence recorded and played in other media formats, as VHS or digital video.

      Critics have given mixed reviews to the new trend of feature-length motion pictures shot on smartphones.

2. a story, event, or the like, presented in this form.

   The motion picture is adapted from the novel of the same name.

3. motion pictures, the art, technique, or business of producing motion pictures.

   The Academy honors achievement in motion pictures every year at the Oscars.

motion picture

noun

1. Also called: film. 

   1. a sequence of images of moving objects photographed by a camera and providing the optical illusion of continuous movement when projected onto a screen

   2. a form of entertainment, information, etc, composed of such a sequence of images and shown in a cinema, etc

Other Word Forms

• motion-picture adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of motion picture¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Dana Goldberg, who has worked with Ellison for nearly 15 years, will rise to co-chair of Paramount Pictures alongside Josh Greenstein, who until last week was Sony Pictures’ motion pictures president.

From Los Angeles Times

Inductees were selected across five categories: motion pictures, television, live theater and live performance, recording and sports entertainment.

From Los Angeles Times

"It's anything from digitised art pieces, literature, music, motion picture, you name it."

From BBC

As for what makes Imax 70mm so special, the film camera is generally considered the highest resolution motion picture camera ever developed.

From Los Angeles Times

If Cal Fire’s model is a snapshot of how fire acts, First Street’s is a motion picture.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cinema 
• feature film www.thesaurus.com
• flick 
• talkie