putty
1 of 2noun
put·ty ˈpə-tē 
plural putties
1
a
: a doughlike material typically made of whiting and linseed oil that is used especially to fasten glass in window frames and to fill crevices in woodwork
b
: any of various substances resembling putty in appearance, consistency, or use
2
: a light brownish-gray to light grayish-brown color
3
: one who is easily manipulated
is putty in her hands
puttyless adjective
puttylike adjective
putty
2 of 2verb
puttied; puttying
transitive verb
: to use putty on or apply putty to
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
New York Times, 20 July 2022 This putty-like substance sticks to most surfaces and molds into any shape before setting to durable, flexible silicone rubber. Ebony Roberts, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with putty, overfilling each hole slightly. Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 6 July 2022 Peele shrewdly draws from a variety of sources, including sci-fi movies of the 1950s at least in tone, relying on viewers to putty in gaps. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 July 2022 When putty is dry, use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth away any excess. Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 6 July 2022 Each package has a piece of putty roughly the size of a stick of gum, so one pack doesn’t go very far. Ebony Roberts, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Most of the destruction occurred during the theft itself, but an amateur restoration attempt using putty and paint modified the painting further while it was lost. CNN, 25 May 2022 To one side there is garish neon pink and on the other a pastel putty tint, even more muted than the millennial version. Max Berlinger, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 June 2022 Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2022 The framing is a little flabby, as the flashbacks slowly putty in how the outspoken woman might have become a murder target. Brian Lowry, CNN, 28 Apr. 2022 Tough guy celebrities like Charles Barkley, Draymond Green and former LSU safety Jamal Adams turn to putty around him. Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com, 11 July 2017 See More
Noun
Before filming, dozens of cars were pummeled at a shooting range with high-caliber rounds, and the crew fitted the holes with detonatable squibs, painted over with Bondo putty. New York Times, 20 July 2022 This putty-like substance sticks to most surfaces and molds into any shape before setting to durable, flexible silicone rubber. Ebony Roberts, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Using a putty knife, fill all nail and screw holes with putty, overfilling each hole slightly. Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 6 July 2022 Peele shrewdly draws from a variety of sources, including sci-fi movies of the 1950s at least in tone, relying on viewers to putty in gaps. Brian Lowry, CNN, 21 July 2022 When putty is dry, use medium-grit sandpaper to smooth away any excess. Chelsea Evers, Country Living, 6 July 2022 Each package has a piece of putty roughly the size of a stick of gum, so one pack doesn’t go very far. Ebony Roberts, Outside Online, 6 July 2022 Most of the destruction occurred during the theft itself, but an amateur restoration attempt using putty and paint modified the painting further while it was lost. CNN, 25 May 2022 To one side there is garish neon pink and on the other a pastel putty tint, even more muted than the millennial version. Max Berlinger, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 June 2022 Verb
But that is not the only reason Yulia Kapustienko comes to the fire department every morning to putty the walls. Hanna Arhirova, Chicago Tribune, 30 June 2022 The framing is a little flabby, as the flashbacks slowly putty in how the outspoken woman might have become a murder target. Brian Lowry, CNN, 28 Apr. 2022 Tough guy celebrities like Charles Barkley, Draymond Green and former LSU safety Jamal Adams turn to putty around him. Jim Kleinpeter, NOLA.com, 11 July 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
French potée potter's glaze, literally, potful, from Old French, from pot pot — more at pottage
First Known Use
Noun
1665, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1719, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing putty
Kids Definition
putty 1 of 2
noun
put·ty ˈpə-tē
plural putties
: a soft sticky substance that hardens as it dries and is used for holding glass in a window frame or filling holes
putty
2 of 2verb
puttied; puttying
: to seal up with putty