# oil paint

CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/oil-paint
Updated: 2026-07-28

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Uncountable when referring to the medium in general; countable when referring to specific tubes or varieties of the substance.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.