To depict someone or something means to show or represent them in a work of art such as a drawing or painting. a gallery of pictures depicting Nelson's most famous battles
To depict someone or something means to describe them or give an impression of them in writing. Margaret Atwood's novel depicts a gloomy, futuristic America Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle, lovable creatures. = portray. to describe something or someone in writing or speech, or to show them in a painting, picture etc (depictus, past participle of depingere, from pingere )