1.  portray(v = verb.communication) - portray in words; "The book portrays the actor as a selfish person"
is one way to represent
Derived forms noun portrait₁, noun portraiture₁, noun portrayal₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody

2.  portray(v = verb.creation) depict, limn - make a portrait of; "Goya wanted to portray his mistress, the Duchess of Alba"
is one way to interpret, represent
Derived forms noun portraitist₁, noun portraiture₂, noun portrayal₃, noun portraying₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody

3.  portray(v = verb.creation) impersonate - assume or act the character of; "She impersonates Madonna"; "The actor portrays an elderly, lonely man"
is one way to act, play, represent
Derived form noun portrayal₂
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s somebody

4.  portray(v = verb.creation) present - represent abstractly, for example in a painting, drawing, or sculpture; "The father is portrayed as a good-looking man in this painting"
is one way to interpret, represent
Derived forms noun portraitist₁, noun portraiture₂, noun portrayal₅, noun portrayer₁, noun portraying₁
Sample sentences: Somebody ----s something; Somebody ----s somebody; Something ----s somebody; Something ----s something

1.  To paint or draw the likeness of; as, to portray a king on horseback. [1913 Webster]
"Take a tile, and lay it before thee, and portray upon it the city, even Jerusalem." [1913 Webster]

2.  Hence, figuratively, to describe in words. [1913 Webster]

3.  To adorn with pictures. [1913 Webster]
"Spear and helmets thronged, and shields
Various with boastful arguments potrayed." [1913 Webster]

portray, v.tr.
1 make a likeness of.
2 describe graphically.

Derivative:
portrayable adj. portrayal n. portrayer n.

Etymology:
ME f. OF portraire f. por- = PRO-(1) + traire draw f. L trahere

VB  describe, set forth, draw a picture, picture, portray, characterize, particularize, narrate, relate, recite, recount, sum up, run over, recapitulate, rehearse, fight one's battles over again, unfold a tale, tell, give an account of, render an account of, report, make a report, draw up a statement, detail, enter into particulars, enter into details, descend to particulars, descend to details, itemize.

VB  copy, drawing, sketch, drought, draft, plot, chart, figure, scheme, image, likeness, icon, portrait, striking likeness, speaking likeness, very image, effigy, facsimile, figure, figure head, puppet, doll, figurine, aglet, manikin, lay- figure, model, mammet, marionette, fantoccini, waxwork, bust, statue, statuette, ideograph, hieroglyphic, anaglyph, kanji, diagram, monogram, map, plan, chart, ground plan, projection, elevation (plan), ichnography, cartography, atlas, outline, scheme, view, radiograph, scotograph, sciagraph, spectrogram, heliogram, V, represent, delineate, depict, depicture, portray, take a likeness, catch a likeness, hit off, photograph, daguerreotype, snapshot, figure, shadow forth, shadow out, adumbrate, body forth, describe, trace, copy, mold, dress up, illustrate, symbolize, paint, carve, engrave, personate, personify, impersonate, assume a character, pose as, act, play, mimic, hold the mirror up to nature.