Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

paint

Pronunciation: /peɪnt/
Translate paint | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of paint

noun

  • 1 [mass noun] a coloured substance which is spread over a surface and dries to leave a thin decorative or protective coating:a tin of paint [count noun]:bituminous paints
  • [count noun] an act of painting something:the house looked in need of a good paint
  • informal cosmetic make-up:one has false curls, another too much paint
  • Computing the function or capability of producing graphics, especially those that mimic the effect of real paint: [as modifier]:a paint program
  • 2North American a piebald horse: [as modifier]:a paint mare
  • 3 [in singular] Basketball the rectangular area marked near the basket at each end of the court:the two players jostled in the paint

verb

[with object]
  • 1cover the surface of (something) with paint: [with object and complement]:the ceiling was painted dark grey (as adjective, with submodifier painted)a brightly painted caravan
  • apply cosmetics to (the skin): she couldn’t have been more than fourteen but her face was thickly painted
  • apply (a liquid) to a surface with a brush.
  • (paint something out) obliterate something with paint:the markings on the plane were hurriedly painted out
  • 2depict (someone or something) or produce (a picture) with paint:I painted a woman sitting next to a table lamp he paints landscapes and portraits
  • give a description of:the city is not as bad as it is painted
  • Computing create (a graphic or screen display) using a paint program: the program enables you to paint images on your screen
  • 3display a mark representing (an aircraft or vehicle) on a radar screen: flying behind hills lessens the enemy’s ability to paint you with radar

Phrases

like watching paint dry

(of an activity or experience) extremely boring.

paint a picture of

describe (someone or something) in a particular way:the president painted a grim picture of life in the next century

paint oneself into a corner

leave oneself no means of escape or room to manoeuvre.

paint the town red

informal go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly: you want to have a good time and paint the town red this weekend

Derivatives

paintable

adjective

painty

adjective

Origin:

Middle English: from peint 'painted', past participle of Old French peindre, from Latin pingere 'to paint'

paint in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of paint in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …