PIK-sel
PIXEL The smallest unit of a digital image or display; a single point in a raster image.
14
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
A pixel (short for 'picture element') is the smallest controllable element of a digital image or display. Each pixel represents a single point that can display a specific color, and millions of pixels combine to create the images we see on screens.
In digital imaging, pixels are arranged in a two-dimensional grid. The resolution of an image or display is measured in pixels (e.g., 1920x1080), with higher pixel counts generally producing sharper, more detailed images. Each pixel's color is typically defined by combinations of red, green, and blue values.
For Scrabble players, PIXEL offers a modern 5-letter word with the valuable X. As technology terminology has entered mainstream dictionaries, words like PIXEL have become valid plays, reflecting how language evolves with technology.
The concept of pixels extends beyond simple displays to areas like digital photography, video games, and even art. 'Pixel art' has become a recognized aesthetic, while terms like 'megapixel' are standard in camera specifications. The pixel represents the fundamental building block of our digital visual world.
The word 'pixel' was coined in 1965 by Fred C. Billingsley at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It's a portmanteau of 'picture' (abbreviated as 'pix') and 'element.' The term emerged as digital imaging technology developed for space exploration and computer graphics.
Words with similar meaning
DOT
Display point (informal)
POINT
Single location
PEL
Abbreviated form
Words with opposite meaning
VECTOR
Resolution-independent graphics
ANALOG
Continuous rather than discrete
Plural Form
pixels
Related Terms
Non-functioning display point
Exactly aligned/precise
Pixels per inch (PPI)
Total base points: 14 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 2 | Consonants: 3
Other high-scoring 5-letter words (Scrabble)
Focus on maximizing tile placement and multipliers.
"Modern smartphones have cameras with millions of pixels for sharp photos."
"The retro video game used large pixels to create its distinctive 8-bit aesthetic."
"PIXEL provided a perfect play using the existing P and L on the board."
Pixels have fundamentally shaped how we create, share, and consume visual information in the digital age. From Instagram filters to video game graphics, pixel manipulation is central to modern visual culture. The term has entered common usage, with phrases like 'pixelated' describing both technical qualities and aesthetic choices.
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like PIXEL