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REFERENCE

paint

n. · v.
US //ˈpeɪnt// UK //pˈeɪnt// paint
  1. 1 colouring liquid (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a liquid substance used to colour or protect surfaces like walls or wood.

    a substance composed of pigment suspended in a liquid medium, applied to surfaces for decorative or protective purposes.

    Example

    We bought five cans of white paint to refresh the living room walls.

    Example

    The contractor recommended a high-gloss paint for the exterior trim to ensure maximum durability against the coastal humidity.
  2. 2 art supplies (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    a set of different colours used for making pictures.

    a collection of pigments, often in tubes or cakes, used by artists to produce representational or abstract works.

    Example

    The children got out their brushes and paints to make birthday cards.

    Example

    The artist preferred working with professional-grade oil paints, citing their superior blending capabilities and rich texture.
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  1. 3 basketball area (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate American English Informal Sport

    the rectangular area on a basketball court near the basket.

    the rectangular area between the baseline and the free-throw line, typically shaded or coloured differently from the rest of the court.

    Example

    The tall player scored most of his points from inside the paint.

    Example

    The defensive strategy focused on preventing the opposing centre from establishing a dominant position within the paint.
  2. 4 radar signal (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Technical

    the image or spot that shows up on a radar screen.

    the visual representation or 'return' of an object detected by a radar system.

    Example

    The operator noticed a small paint on the radar screen moving south.

    Example

    The stealth aircraft was designed to minimize its radar cross-section, making it nearly impossible to produce a consistent paint on enemy monitors.
  3. 5 to cover a surface (v.)
    A1 Beginner

    to put paint on something like a wall or a fence.

    to apply a pigmented coating to a surface, typically using a brush, roller, or spray.

    Example

    They decided to paint the front door bright red.

    Example

    Before they could paint the weathered siding, they had to spend several days sanding away the old, peeling layers.
  4. 6 to create art (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to make a picture using paints.

    to produce a representational or abstract image through the application of pigments to a substrate.

    Example

    She likes to go to the park and paint the trees in autumn.

    Example

    The portraitist chose to paint his subjects in natural light to capture the subtle nuances of their expressions.
  5. 7 to describe (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to describe someone or something in a particular way.

    to depict or characterize someone or something through verbal or written description.

    Example

    The newspaper tried to paint the politician as a hero.

    Example

    The biography attempts to paint a more sympathetic picture of the monarch than previous historical accounts have suggested.
  6. 8 to apply medicine (v.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Medicine

    to put liquid medicine on a part of the body using a brush.

    to apply a liquid medicinal or antiseptic substance to a localized area of the body.

    Example

    The nurse will paint the area with iodine before the small operation.

    Example

    The surgeon instructed the staff to paint the incision site with a sterile solution to minimize the risk of post-operative infection.
Origin

From Middle English peynten, from Old French peintier, paincter, itself from paint, the past participle of paindre, from Latin pingō (“to paint”) (perfect passive participle pictus). Displaced native Old English tēafor (“paint”), *tīefran (“to paint”); and Old English mētan (“to paint”) and mǣlan (“to paint, mark with colour”).

Word family
Idioms6 entries

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