paint

[ peynt ]
See synonyms for paint on Thesaurus.com
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.

  1. the dried surface pigment: Don't scuff the paint.

  2. the solid coloring matter alone; pigment.

  3. facial cosmetics, especially lipstick, rouge, etc., designed to heighten natural color.

  4. 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.

  1. to represent in paint, as in oils, tempera, or watercolor: to paint an actress as the Muse of tragedy.

  2. to depict as if by painting; describe vividly in words: The ads painted the resort as a winter wonderland.

  3. to color by or as if by painting: Sunset painted the clouds pink.

  4. 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.

  1. to put on or use facial cosmetics.

Idioms about paint

  1. 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

1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English peinten (verb), from Old French peint “painted,” past participle of peindre “to paint,” from Latin pingere; see picture

Other words from paint

  • paint·a·ble, adjective
  • paintless, adjective
  • outpaint, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for paint

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

  1. the solid pigment of a paint before it is suspended in liquid

  2. informal face make-up, such as rouge

  3. 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

  1. (tr) to apply (liquid) onto (a surface): her mother painted the cut with antiseptic

  2. (tr) to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)

  3. (tr) to describe vividly in words

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

Origin of paint

1
C13: from Old French peint painted, from peindre to paint, from Latin pingere to paint, adorn

Derived forms of paint

  • painty, adjective

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