paint
- 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.
- an application of this.
- the dried surface pigment: Don't scuff the paint.
- the solid coloring matter alone; pigment.
- facial cosmetics, especially lipstick, rouge, etc., designed to heighten natural color.
- Chiefly Western U.S. a pied, calico, or spotted horse or pony; pinto.
- to coat, cover, or decorate (something) with paint: to paint a fence.
- to produce (a picture, design, etc.) in paint: to paint a portrait.
- to represent in paint, as in oils, tempera, or watercolor: to paint an actress as the Muse of tragedy.
- to depict as if by painting; describe vividly in words: The ads painted the resort as a winter wonderland.
- to color by or as if by painting: Sunset painted the clouds pink.
- to apply a substance to, as a liquid medicine or a cosmetic: to paint a cut with iodine.
- to coat or cover anything with paint.
- to engage in painting as an art: She has begun to paint in her spare time.
- to put on or use facial cosmetics.
- paint the town red, Informal. to celebrate boisterously, especially by making a round of stops at bars and nightclubs.Also paint the town.
Origin of paint
Related Words
varnishoilenamelcolormakeupcosmeticpigmentwaxdyestainlatexacrylicportraysketchdepictcoatcoverdrawdaubwashExamples from the Web for paint
Contemporary Examples
U.S. spies are worried the long-awaited Senate review will paint targets on their backs.
CIA Offers New Security Checks for ‘Torture Report’ SpiesShane Harris, Kimberly Dozier
December 9, 2014
I want to paint what I feel,” he said to Theo, “and feel what I paint.
The idea of being able to paint together was the direction we were all hinting toward anyway.
Reagan proceeds to paint a grim picture of the State of the Union, starting with the economy and moving to Vietnam.
Picasso went on to paint some of the most influential and lucrative paintings of the 20th century.
Historical Examples
He will paint the same scene under a dozen conditions of light.
Ballads of a BohemianRobert W. Service
Why did Shakespeare want to paint this unpleasant bitter-tongued wife?
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
He could paint you Bassanio or Benedick or Mercutio to the life.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
His passion is so intense that he has no desire to paint her seduction as greater than it was.
The Man ShakespeareFrank Harris
S' fur 's the pitcher goes, it's about as good 's kin be did with paint, I guess.
Chip, of the Flying UB. M. Bower
paint
- 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
- a dry film of paint on a surface
- the solid pigment of a paint before it is suspended in liquid
- informal face make-up, such as rouge
- short for greasepaint
- to make (a picture) of (a figure, landscape, etc) with paint applied to a surface such as canvas
- to coat (a surface) with paint, as in decorating
- (tr) to apply (liquid) onto (a surface)her mother painted the cut with antiseptic
- (tr) to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)
- (tr) to describe vividly in words
- paint the town red informal to celebrate uninhibitedly; go on a spree
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for paint
v.
early 13c., "represent in painting or drawing, portray;" early 14c., "paint the surface of, color, stain;" from Old French peintier "to paint," from peint, past participle of peindre "to paint," from Latin pingere "to paint, represent in a picture, stain; embroider, tattoo," from PIE root *peig-/*peik- "to cut" (cf. Sanskrit pimsati "hews out, cuts, carves, adorns," Old Church Slavonic pila "file, saw," Lithuanian pela "file"). Sense evolution between PIE and Latin was, presumably, from "decorate with cut marks" to "decorate" to "decorate with color." Cf. Sanskrit pingah "reddish," pesalah "adorned, decorated, lovely," Old Church Slavonic pegu "variegated;" Greek poikilos "variegated;" Old High German fehjan "to adorn;" Old Church Slavonic pisati, Lithuanian piesiu "to write." Probably also representing the "cutting" branch of the family is Old English feol (see file (n.)).
To paint the town (red) "go on a spree" first recorded 1884; to paint (someone or something) black "represent it as wicked or evil" is from 1590s. Adjective paint-by-numbers "simple" is attested by 1970; the art-for-beginners kits themselves date to c.1953.
n.
late 13c. (in compounds), "that with which something is painted," from paint (v.). Of rouge, make-up, etc., from 1650s. Paint brush attested from 1827.
paint
(pānt)- A solution or suspension of one or more medicaments applied to the skin with a brush or large applicator.
- To apply medicine to; swab.