# paint

/ˈpeɪnt/ (US) · /pˈeɪnt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/paint
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. colouring liquid

noun · CEFR A1

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

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

- We bought five cans of white paint to refresh the living room walls.
- The contractor recommended a high-gloss paint for the exterior trim to ensure maximum durability against the coastal humidity.

### 2. art supplies

noun · CEFR A1

a set of different colours used for making pictures.

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

- The children got out their brushes and paints to make birthday cards.
- The artist preferred working with professional-grade oil paints, citing their superior blending capabilities and rich texture.

### 3. basketball area

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

the rectangular area on a basketball court near the basket.

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

- The tall player scored most of his points from inside the paint.
- The defensive strategy focused on preventing the opposing centre from establishing a dominant position within the paint.

### 4. radar signal

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The operator noticed a small paint on the radar screen moving south.
- The stealth aircraft was designed to minimize its radar cross-section, making it nearly impossible to produce a consistent paint on enemy monitors.

### 5. to cover a surface

verb · CEFR A1

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

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

- They decided to paint the front door bright red.
- Before they could paint the weathered siding, they had to spend several days sanding away the old, peeling layers.

### 6. to create art

verb · CEFR A2

to make a picture using paints.

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

- She likes to go to the park and paint the trees in autumn.
- The portraitist chose to paint his subjects in natural light to capture the subtle nuances of their expressions.

### 7. to describe

verb · CEFR B2

to describe someone or something in a particular way.

For teachers: to depict or characterize someone or something through verbal or written description.

- The newspaper tried to paint the politician as a hero.
- The biography attempts to paint a more sympathetic picture of the monarch than previous historical accounts have suggested.

### 8. to apply medicine

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The nurse will paint the area with iodine before the small operation.
- The surgeon instructed the staff to paint the incision site with a sterile solution to minimize the risk of post-operative infection.

## Examples

- The wet paint on the wall smells very strong.
- The artist mixed several shades of blue paint to capture the exact color of the ocean.
- Modern industrial paint contains specialized polymers that resist corrosion and UV damage, ensuring the exterior of the building remains vibrant for decades.

---

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.