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decoupage

American  
[day-koo-pahzh] / ˌdeɪ kuˈpɑʒ /

noun

  1. the art or technique of decorating something with cut-outs of paper, linoleum, plastic, or other flat material over which varnish or lacquer is applied.

  2. work produced by the art or technique of decoupage.


verb (used with object)

decoupaged, decoupaging
  1. to decorate by decoupage.

    walls decoupaged with photographs of movie stars.

  2. to apply or use as decoupage or by decoupage technique.

    Let's decoupage these maps onto the tabletops.

decoupage British  
/ ˌdeɪkuːˈpɑːʒ /

noun

  1. the art or process of decorating a surface with shapes or illustrations cut from paper, card, etc

  2. anything produced by this technique

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of decoupage

1955–60; < French découpage a cutting out, equivalent to Middle French decoup ( er ) to cut out ( de- de- + couper to cut; see coupé, coup 1) + -age -age


Vocabulary lists containing decoupage

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.

See Examples For:

The Etsy store Sea and Stable has turned oyster shells into blue decoupage chinoiserie jewelry holders and trinket bowls.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 18, 2022

For John Derian, the founder of an eponymous home décor and decoupage line, the resurgence of fake food is very welcome.

From New York Times ● Nov. 27, 2021

But a new line of glass decoupage plates by designer John Derian and artist Katharine Barnwell feature patterns taken from six presidential administrations.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 29, 2018

For those who haven’t browsed Mr. Derian’s decoupage home-décor pieces, his 6-pound book may suffice.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2016

Though, I’d seen enough paper-plate crafts and lumpy decoupage to know exactly what she meant about the difference between a hobby and a skill.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

We started in the living room, then moved into her office, which is a temple to tabloids, with front pages citing her scoops decoupaged on the walls and ceiling.

From New York Times ● Aug. 7, 2021

He collected so many rejection slips that his wife decoupaged a wastebasket with them.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 3, 2015

The central components of this extravaganza were the five hundred lovingly decoupaged balls.

From Slate ● Dec. 6, 2012

The atmosphere is vaguely colonial, with white French doors and trays decoupaged with portraits of animals in Victorian ruffs.

From New York Times ● Aug. 17, 2012

Occasionally one of the lovely ladies from church would include me in crafts, and consequently, I turned out decoupaged eggs and quilted pillows by the number.

From Through these Eyes The courageous struggle to find meaning in a life stressed with cancer by Lauren Ann Isaacson

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