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
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 the town red
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.
paint
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.
paint the town red
To go carousing: “Arnie and a few of his buddies drove off in a big car Friday night and really painted the town red.”
Idioms and Phrases with paint the town red
paint the town red
Go on a spree, as in Whenever they go to New York they want to paint the town red. The precise allusion of this term is disputed. Some believe it refers to setting something on fire; others point to a vague association of the color red with violence. [Late 1800s]