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

Well-known works will be shown alongside never-before-seen pieces in a display that highlights painting, video, textile, neon, sculpture and more to survey Ms. Emin’s confessional approach to creating.

From The Wall Street Journal

He also hasn’t been able to make needed repairs to his house, such as painting the outside trim.

From The Wall Street Journal

The room, with its cracks and peeling paint in sharp focus, is more certifiably there than the vague, transient human figure.

From The Wall Street Journal

With Oslo asserting greater control, Slyunyaeva says Barentsburg has to seek Norway’s permission to even put a new coat of paint on its aging buildings.

From The Wall Street Journal

In most cases the “mummy portraits”—as the paintings are called—came to be pried or detached from the full mummy by excavators, archaeologists or thieves.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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