putty
1 Americannoun
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a compound of whiting and linseed oil, of a doughlike consistency when fresh, used to secure windowpanes, patch woodwork defects, etc.
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any of various other compounds used for similar purposes.
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any of various substances for sealing the joints of tubes or pipes, composed of linseed oil with red lead, white lead, iron oxide, etc.
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a creamy mixture of lime and water, partially dried and mixed with sand and plaster of Paris to make a finish plaster coat.
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any person or thing easily molded, influenced, etc..
We were putty in his hands.
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light brownish- or yellowish-gray.
verb (used with object)
idioms
noun
noun
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a stiff paste made of whiting and linseed oil that is used to fix glass panes into frames and to fill cracks or holes in woodwork, etc
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any substance with a similar consistency, function, or appearance
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a mixture of lime and water with sand or plaster of Paris used on plaster as a finishing coat
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( as modifier )
a putty knife
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See putty powder
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a person who is easily influenced or persuaded
he's putty in her hands
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a colour varying from a greyish-yellow to a greyish-brown or brownish-grey
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( as adjective )
putty-coloured
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informal worthless or useless
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have puttiedperfect
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has puttiedperfect 3rd person singular
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is puttyingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been puttyingperfect progressive
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has been puttyingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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are puttyingprogressive
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am puttyingprogressive 1st person singular
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puttiessingular 3rd person
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puttyingparticiple
Past
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had puttiedperfect
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was puttyingprogressive singular
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had been puttyingperfect progressive
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were puttyingprogressive plural
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puttiedparticiple
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puttiedsimple
Future
Etymology
Origin of putty
First recorded in 1625–35, putty is from the French word potée, literally, (something) potted. See pot 1, -ee
Explanation
Putty is the clay-like substance you can use to fill holes in a wall before painting it, or to secure a piece of glass in a window frame. Putty comes in different colors and consistencies, but it's generally a very soft doughy material that can fit it small or awkward spaces and hardens after a certain amount of time. Before painting a wall, you might want to putty any holes or cracks, using a putty knife. After the putty dries, you can sand it smooth. The word comes from the French potée, "polishing powder."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The business of the North American Toy Fair, an annual showcase of the latest in silly putty, monster trucks and board games, is fun.
From BBC • Mar. 4, 2025
Tucked inside Aardman’s putty preoccupations is a potent philosophical statement about the irreplaceable quality of the human touch.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024
But after so many years in the business, Griffin understands how to maneuver her audience and keep them molded in her hands like putty.
From Salon • Oct. 28, 2024
You can DIY a short-term solution for a leak with epoxy putty, pipe clamps or good old-fashioned duct-tape, but that should be a stopgap measure only.
From Seattle Times • May 15, 2024
Even the last added lean-to bedrooms were old and weathered and the putty around the windowpanes had shrunk away from the glass.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
