Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pixel

/ˈpɪk.səl/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.72 in modern English

Syllables: pix-el
IPA: /ˈpɪk.səl/

14

Scrabble Score

5

Letters

2

Syllables

5

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

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

noun

One of the squares that make up a work of pixel art or a zoomed-in image in a computer.

noun

A unit of measure used in screen displays, resolutions, and similar visual media that represents either linear measure or area.

verb

To create computer graphics by editing individual pixels.

Example Sentences

"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 data accuracy."
"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."
"Whether he's pixeling for cellphones or PCs, here is one artist who has a unique and imaginative vision."

Etymology

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.

Inflected Forms

pixels (plural) pixels (present, singular) pixeling (US, participle) pixelling (UK, participle) pixeled (US, participle) pixeled (US, past) pixelled (UK, participle) pixelled (UK, past)

Derived Forms

biopixel dixel edgel flixel interpixel mixel multipixel nonpixel pixelate pixelated pixelation pixelfuck

Phrases

dead pixel peep pixels pixel art pixel hunt pixel hunting pixel peep pixel peeper pixel-perfect

Synonyms

pel pictel px picture element

Rhymes With

bichsel trixel dixel sixel

Questions

How do you pronounce pixel?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈpɪk.səl/.
What does pixel mean?: One of the tiny dots that make up the representation of an image in a computer's memory.
Where does pixel come from?: 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.

How to pronounce pixel

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pixel”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈpɪk.səl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pixel”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pixel” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.