patina

American  

[pat-n-uh, puh-tee-nuh] / ˈpæt n ə, pəˈti nə /

noun

1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.

2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.

3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.

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patina ¹ British  

/ ˈpætɪnə /

noun

1. a film of oxide formed on the surface of a metal, esp the green oxidation of bronze or copper See also verdigris

2. any fine layer on a surface

   a patina of frost

3. the sheen on a surface that is caused by much handling

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patina ² British  

/ ˈpætɪnə /

noun

1. a broad shallow dish used in ancient Rome

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Etymology

Origin of patina

1740–50; < Italian: coating < Latin: pan. See paten

Example Sentences

The film’s vintage patina doesn’t detract from rising actor Will Price’s confident performance as an immature mobster who prefers bitcoin to stacks of Benjamins.

From Los Angeles Times

Upon winning the court battle, Cerf and Random House cleverly marketed the book with an “elite patina” to a mass audience, Ms. Feldman observes.

From The Wall Street Journal

If you want dinner with a literary patina, grab the French onion soup at Michel’s Christiania, a favorite of longtime resident Ernest Hemingway.

From The Wall Street Journal

One of the affected neighborhoods is Jabriyat, a wealthy area overlooking the camp that has the feel of a ghost town, where villas bear the dusty patina of abandonment.

From Los Angeles Times

I learned to force a patina—a controlled oxidation to protect the blade—with vinegar.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• blanket
• coat
• crust
• glaze
• layer
• membrane
• sheet
• skin
• varnish
• veneer