pixelate

[ pik-suh-leyt ]
/ ˈpɪk səˌleɪt /

verb (used with object), pix·el·at·ed, pix·el·at·ing.

in computer graphics and digital photography, to cause (an image) to break up into pixels, as by overenlarging the image: When enlarging a photograph, first increase the resolution to avoid pixelating it.
to blur (parts of a digital image) by creating unclear, pixel-like patches, for purposes of censorship or to maintain the anonymity of the subject: Police have asked the media to pixelate the faces of the men who were taken into custody.

verb (used without object), pix·el·at·ed, pix·el·at·ing.

(of a computer graphic or other digital image) to break up into visible pixels: We tried to watch the old, scratched DVD, but the image pixelated before our eyes.
Also especially British, pix·el·late. Sometimes pix·i·late.

Origin of pixelate

OTHER WORDS FROM pixelate

pix·el·a·tion, pix·el·i·za·tion [pik-suh-luh-zey-shuh n] /ˌpɪk sə ləˈzeɪ ʃən/, especially British, pix·el·la·tion, noun

Words nearby pixelate

Example sentences from the Web for pixelated

British Dictionary definitions for pixelated

pixelate

pixellate

/ (ˈpɪksɪˌleɪt) /

verb

to blur (a video image) by overlaying it with a grid of squares, usually to disguise the identity of a person

Derived forms of pixelate

pixelation or pixellation, noun