palette

[ pal-it ]

/ ˈpæl ɪt /

noun

a thin and usually oval or oblong board or tablet with a thumb hole at one end, used by painters for holding and mixing colors.

any other flat surface used by a painter for this purpose.

the set of colors on such a board or surface.

the range of colors used by a particular artist.

the variety of techniques or range of any art: a lush but uneven musical palette.

the complete range of colors made available by a computer graphics card, from which a user or program may choose those to be displayed.

(in ancient Egyptian art) a somewhat flattish slate object of various shapes, carved with commemorative scenes or motifs or, especially in the smaller pieces, containing a recessed area probably for holding eye makeup and often used as a votive offering.

Also pallette. Armor. a small plate defending the front of the armpit when the arm is lifted; gusset.

Origin of palette

1615–25; < French, Middle French < Italian paletta, diminutive of pala shovel < Latin pāla; see -ette

Related formspal·ette·like, adjective

Can be confusedpalate palette pallet

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for palette

Then when we were in Big Sur, Michael changed her palette to different shades of green.
Kate Bosworth Is Back and Crazy in Love|Erin Cunningham|November 5, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The palette was gentle and pretty, focusing on rose pinks, lavenders, dusky mauve, mint, faun and pale lemon.
Burberry Prorsum Spring/ Summer 2014|Tom Sykes|September 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Barrish eschews minimalist pantsuits and a palette of Giorgio Armani gray.
Robin Givhan: Dressing for Power on USA’s ‘Political Animals'|Robin Givhan|August 8, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The conference room on the third floor of the New York Helmsley hotel is rather dourly decorated in a palette of brown and beige.
Camp Fashion Design Draws Budding Designers To New York|Robin Givhan|July 13, 2012|DAILY BEAST

I would compare it to wine tasting—you take a sip and cleanse your palette.
Confessions of a Shrimp Sniffer|Bill Mahan|July 11, 2010|DAILY BEAST
At the top of the palette the pure colours were placed, though, more frequently, there were no pure colours at all.
The Life of James McNeill Whistler|Elizabeth Robins Pennell
She was a picture that awoke the artist in him, and put him in haste to resume his palette and brushes.
The Heart of the Ancient Wood|Charles G. D. Roberts
A tall man rose from a palette, which was the sole article of furniture in the room.
Out with Garibaldi|G. A. Henty
Margaret said nothing, but carefully mixed some colors on her palette.
Wild Margaret|Geraldine Fleming
She turned before he was close to her, her palette and her brushes in her hand.
Fairfax and His Pride|Marie Van Vorst

British Dictionary definitions for palette

palette

/ (ˈpælɪt) /

noun

Also: pallet a flat piece of wood, plastic, etc, used by artists as a surface on which to mix their paints

the range of colours characteristic of a particular artist, painting, or school of paintinga restricted palette

the available range of colours or patterns that can be displayed by a computer on a visual display unit

either of the plates of metal attached by a strap to the cuirass in a suit of armour to protect the armpits

Word Origin for palette

C17: from French, diminutive of pale shovel, from Latin pala spade

confusable

Avoid confusion with palate, pallet 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for palette

palette

1620s, "flat thin tablet used by an artist to lay and mix colors," from French palette, from Old French palete "small shovel, blade" (13c.) diminutive of pale "shovel, blade," from Latin pala "spade, shoulder blade," probably from PIE *pak-slo-, from root *pag- (see pact). Transferred sense of "colors used by a particular artist" is from 1882.

palette

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of palette

Examples from the Web for palette

palette

noun

Word Origin for palette

confusable

palette