Word
oil paint
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a type of thick paint made by mixing colored powder with oil. It dries very slowly, which lets an artist change or blend colors over several days.
n. a slow-drying medium consisting of pigment particles suspended in a drying oil, typically linseed oil. Used extensively in fine art since the Renaissance for its richness of color and capacity for layered applications.
Examples
“He prefers oil paint because it allows for smooth blending.”
“The artist spent several months on the portrait, taking advantage of the slow drying time of oil paint to refine the skin tones.”
“Traditional oil paint requires a solvent like turpentine for thinning and cleanup, as the linseed oil base is not water-soluble and hardens through oxidation rather than evaporation.”
Examples
simple
“He prefers oil paint because it allows for smooth blending.”
contextual
“The artist spent several months on the portrait, taking advantage of the slow drying time of oil paint to refine the skin tones.”
complex
“Traditional oil paint requires a solvent like turpentine for thinning and cleanup, as the linseed oil base is not water-soluble and hardens through oxidation rather than evaporation.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the medium in general; countable when referring to specific tubes or varieties of the substance.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
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