Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense paints, present participle painting, past tense, past participle painted
1. variable noun
Paint is a coloured liquid that you put onto a surface with a brush in order to protect the surface or to make it look nice, or that you use to produce a picture.
...a pot of red paint.
They saw some large letters in white paint.
...water-based artist's paints.
Synonyms: colouring, colour, stain, dye More Synonyms of paint
2. singular noun
On a wall or object, the paint is the covering of dried paint on it.
The paint was peeling on the window frames.
They'll probably scrape the paint off and make it look like a regular patrol car.
3. verb
If you paint a wall or an object, you cover it with paint.
They started to mend the woodwork and paint the walls. [VERB noun]
I made a guitar and painted it red. [V n colour]
...painted furniture. [VERB-ed]
[Also VERB]
4. verb
If you paint something or paint a picture of it, you produce a picture of it using paint.
He is painting a huge volcano. [VERB noun]
Why do people paint pictures? [VERB noun]
I had come here to paint. [VERB]
5. verb
When you paint a design or message on a surface, you put it on the surface using paint.
...a machine for painting white lines down roads. [VERB noun preposition]
They went around painting rude slogans on cars. [VERB noun preposition]
The recesses are decorated with gold stars, with smaller stars painted along theedges. [VERB-ed]
6. verb
If someone paints their lips or nails, they put a coloured cosmetic on them.
She propped the mirror against her handbag and began to paint her lips. [VERB noun]
She painted her fingernails bright red. [V n colour]
7. verb
If you paint a grim or vivid picture of something, you give a description of it that is grim or vivid.
The report paints a grim picture of life there. [VERB noun]
He went on to paint a rosy picture about how much has already been accomplished. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: describe, capture, portray, depict More Synonyms of paint
8. See also gloss paint, oil paint, painting, poster paint, war paint
More Synonyms of paint
paint in British English
(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
6.
to make (a picture) of (a figure, landscape, etc) with paint applied to a surface such as canvas
7.
to coat (a surface) with paint, as in decorating
8. (transitive)
to apply (liquid) onto (a surface)
her mother painted the cut with antiseptic
9. (transitive)
to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)
10. (transitive)
to describe vividly in words
11. paint the town red
Derived forms
painty (ˈpainty)
adjective
paintiness (ˈpaintiness)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French peint painted, from peindre to paint, from Latin pingere to paint, adorn
paint in American English
(peɪnt)
verb transitive
1.
a.
to make (a picture, design, etc.) in colors applied to a surface
b.
to depict or portray with paints
to paint a landscape
2.
to describe colorfully or vividly; depict in words
3.
to cover or decorate with paint; color
to paint a wall
4.
to apply cosmetics to; adorn; beautify
5.
a.
to apply (a medicine, etc.) with a brush or swab
b.
to treat (a wound, etc.) in this way
verb intransitive
6.
to practice the art of painting pictures
7. Archaic
to use cosmetics
noun
8.
a.
a mixture of a pigment with oil, water, etc., in liquid or paste form, applied as with a brush, roller, or spray gun, and used for protective covering or coloring of a surface or for making pictures on canvas, paper, etc.
b.
dry pigment for such use
9.
a dried coat of paint
10.
a.
coloring matter, such as lipstick, rouge, etc., used as a cosmetic
b.
greasepaint
11. US Chiefly West
pinto (sense 2)
12. US, Basketball; Informal
free throw lane
with the
Idioms:
paint out
paint the town (red)
Derived forms
paintable (ˈpaintable)
adjective
Word origin
ME peinten < OFr peint, pp. of peindre < L pingere, to paint, embroider < IE base *peig-, to mark by scratching or coloring > Gr pikros, sharp, OE fah, stained; (sense 12) < the practice of painting the area in a contrasting color