decoupage

American  

[dey-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.

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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

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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

Example Sentences

Or decoupage paper treasures onto the base of a serving tray, adding a coating of sealant.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 30, 2022

It also includes bonus lessons and arrives fortified with zippy decoupage graphics, plus more historical footage and inspirational oomph.

From Washington Post • Dec. 21, 2021

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

A little boy set outs from his South American village to follow his father to the big city, and in his young eyes the streets are decoupage and the industrial machines are like big animals.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2015

Our stacks of Cosmopolitan were topped with an unread issue of Boy's Life or Sports Illustrated, and our decoupage projects were concealed beneath the sporting equipment we never asked for but always received.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris