paint

[ peynt ]

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.

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.

paint

/ 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

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. paint the town red informal.
   to celebrate uninhibitedly; go on a spree

Derived Forms

• ˈpainty, adjective

Other Words From

• painta·ble adjective
• paintless adjective
• outpaint verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of paint¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English peinten (verb), from Old French peint “painted,” past participle of peindre “to paint,” from Latin pingere; picture

Word History and Origins

Origin of paint¹

C13: from Old French peint painted, from peindre to paint, from Latin pingere to paint, adorn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. paint the town red, Informal. to celebrate boisterously, especially by making a round of stops at bars and nightclubs. Also paint the town.

Example Sentences

If Embiid even steps foot in the paint, the nearest help defender slides over to deny an entry pass until the man guarding Embiid can steel himself enough to force Embiid off his spot.

From FiveThirtyEight

They each finished the regular season ranked among the top 10 in the NBA in defensive rating and opponent points in the paint.

From FiveThirtyEight

While on the water, the fishermen beat the canoe with banana leaves, applied body paint, blew on conch shells and chanted in synchrony.

From Science News

Many of those products had little to no English language instruction and contained methylene chloride, commonly used for paint removal, which is banned for retail sale by the EPA because exposure can result in death.

From Voice of San Diego

She’s more concerned with tracking, for instance, how many possessions the Dream can get Carter into the paint, as opposed to times down the floor when she’s limited to the perimeter.

From FiveThirtyEight

U.S. spies are worried the long-awaited Senate review will paint targets on their backs.

From The Daily Beast

I want to paint what I feel,” he said to Theo, “and feel what I paint.

From The Daily Beast

The idea of being able to paint together was the direction we were all hinting toward anyway.

From The Daily Beast

At this point, he became Tom Sawyer, letting his musical compatriots—and the folk tradition—help paint his musical fence.

From The Daily Beast

During the day they would paint portraits of Spahn, using oil paint on small canvases that they had brought.

From The Daily Beast

She apparently prefers to paint single figures of women and young girls, but her works include a variety of subjects.

From Project Gutenberg

The general ensemble of war-paint and spotted ponies was enough for me; I didn't need to be told that it was my move.

From Project Gutenberg

He went into the nursery, unearthed the now-disused Noah's Ark, and sucked the paint off as many animals as remained.

From Project Gutenberg

A knife would hurt, but Aunty Rosa had told him, a year ago, that if he sucked paint he would die.

From Project Gutenberg

"Perhaps I shall be able to paint your picture some day," said Edna with a smile when they were seated.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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