pixel

One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.

Noun

  1. One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.
    • We have chosen to sample at a 500 KC rate and we define each one of these samples as a picture element or pixel. We have sampled each pixel with 6-bit accuracy which is commensurate with the signal/noise ratio and the...
    • In the tomographic images of the 30-day-old cheeses, the gantry had to be removed with image processing techniques: first, the binarised image (grey level larger than 10⁴) was eroded with a disk of three pixels. - 2015...
  2. One of the squares that make up a work of pixel art or a zoomed-in image in a computer.
  3. A unit of measure used in screen displays, resolutions, and similar visual media that represents either linear measure or area.

Origin

pix (“pictures”), + el(ement); often taken to be a blend of “picture” and “element”. The ⟨x⟩ stems from the abbreviation pics being sometimes also written as pix, which has been in use since the 1880s. First attested in 1965.

Forms

pixels

Synonyms

pel pictel px

Hyponyms

gigapixel kilopixel macropixel megapixel micropixel terapixel

Derived

biopixel dead pixel dixel edgel flixel interpixel mixel multipixel nonpixel peep pixels pixel art pixelate pixelated pixelation pixelfuck pixel hunt pixel hunting pixelisation pixelization pixelize pixellated pixelly pixelmap pixel peep

Verb

  1. To create computer graphics by editing individual pixels.
    • Whether he's pixeling for cellphones or PCs, here is one artist who has a unique and imaginative vision. - 2006, NFGMan, Character Design for Mobile Devices, page 110:

Forms

pixels pixeling pixelling pixeled pixelled