oil painting
Americannoun
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the art or technique of painting with oil colors.
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a painting executed in oil colors.
noun
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a picture painted with oil paints
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the art or process of painting with oil paints
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informal he is not good-looking
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of oil painting
First recorded in 1775–85
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 oil painting created in 1821 has been exhibited at Christchurch Mansion in Ipswich, on loan to Colchester and Ipswich Museums from the National Gallery in London.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
At their feet, a regal Airedale terrier named Phoebe lounges, looking as though she belongs in an oil painting.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 28, 2026
Monaco's royal Christmas card is much grander, with a big fire, oil painting, formal clothes, and a sense of regal order.
From BBC ● Dec. 22, 2025
The print was one from a limited edition of 850 published in 1973, with the original oil painting having being completed in 1961.
From BBC ● Sep. 2, 2025
For the last six months, I’ve stayed after school almost every day oil painting with Mr. Grady.
From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson
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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.