paint

American  

[peynt] / peɪnt /

noun

1. a substance composed of solid coloring matter suspended in a liquid medium and applied as a protective or decorative coating to various surfaces, or to canvas or other materials in producing a work of art.

2. an application of this.

3. the dried surface pigment.

   Don't scuff the paint.

4. the solid coloring matter alone; pigment.

5. facial cosmetics, especially lipstick, rouge, etc., designed to heighten natural color.

6. Chiefly Western U.S.  a pied, calico, or spotted horse or pony; pinto.

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verb (used with object)

1. to coat, cover, or decorate (something) with paint.

   to paint a fence.

2. to produce (a picture, design, etc.) in paint.

   to paint a portrait.

3. to represent in paint, as in oils, tempera, or watercolor.

   to paint an actress as the Muse of tragedy.

4. to depict as if by painting; describe vividly in words.

   The ads painted the resort as a winter wonderland.

5. to color by or as if by painting.

   Sunset painted the clouds pink.

6. to apply a substance to, as a liquid medicine or a cosmetic.

   to paint a cut with iodine.

verb (used without object)

1. to coat or cover anything with paint.

2. to engage in painting as an art.

   She has begun to paint in her spare time.

3. to put on or use facial cosmetics.

idioms

1. paint the town red,  to celebrate boisterously, especially by making a round of stops at bars and nightclubs. Also paint the town.

paint British  

/ peɪnt /

noun

1. a substance used for decorating or protecting a surface, esp a mixture consisting of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid, that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard coating

2. a dry film of paint on a surface

3. the solid pigment of a paint before it is suspended in liquid

4. informal  face make-up, such as rouge

5. short for greasepaint

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verb

1. to make (a picture) of (a figure, landscape, etc) with paint applied to a surface such as canvas

2. to coat (a surface) with paint, as in decorating

3. (tr) to apply (liquid) onto (a surface)

   her mother painted the cut with antiseptic

4. (tr) to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)

5. (tr) to describe vividly in words

6. informal  to celebrate uninhibitedly; go on a spree

Other Word Forms

• outpaint verb (used with object)
• paintable adjective
• paintless adjective
• painty adjective

Etymology

Origin of paint

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English peinten (verb), from Old French peint “painted,” past participle of peindre “to paint,” from Latin pingere; picture

Example Sentences

In all four crosswalks, delightful renditions of Holly’s famous thick-rimmed eyeglasses were painted.

From The Wall Street Journal

The auction house said in its promotional material that very little was known of the painting -- only that a peer of Rubens had made an engraving of it.

From Barron's

"My friend and I were painting until 4am after our exam," she tells me.

From BBC

Albert's Bridge was about a man painting a bridge, with philosophy and mathematics thrown in.

From BBC

They "posted flyers and painted graffiti" and "were ready" to carry out other tasks indicated by their handlers.

From Barron's

Related Words

• brush
• coat
• cover
• daub
• decorate
• depict
• design
• draw
• dye
• portray
• sketch
• tint
• wash