# painter

/ˈpeɪntɝ/ (US) · /pˈeɪntɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/painter
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. artist

noun · CEFR A2

an artist who creates pictures using paint.

For teachers: an artist who produces representational or abstract works using paint as a medium.

- The painter spent all afternoon in the park trying to capture the colors of the trees.
- The portrait painter requested several sittings to ensure the lighting accurately reflected the subject's character.

### 2. worker

noun · CEFR A2

a person whose job is to paint surfaces like walls, doors, or buildings.

For teachers: a tradesperson or laborer employed to apply paint, wallpaper, or other finishes to architectural surfaces.

- We hired a professional painter to refresh the exterior of our house before winter.
- The master painter insisted on thorough surface preparation, knowing that even high-quality gloss would fail on a dusty substrate.

### 3. boat rope

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a rope attached to the front of a small boat used for tying it to a dock or towing it.

For teachers: a line attached to the bow of a small boat, such as a dinghy, used for securing the vessel to a pier or for towing.

- Make sure you tie the painter securely to the dock so the boat doesn't drift away.
- As the tide rose, the tension on the painter increased, causing the small dinghy to bob rhythmically against the wooden pilings.

Usage: In nautical contexts, 'painter' refers specifically to the rope at the bow, not just any rope on a ship.

## Examples

- The painter is busy working on a new portrait.
- After the construction was finished, a professional painter arrived to apply the final coat of white to the exterior walls.
- While the Renaissance painter focused on achieving perfect anatomical proportions, modern artists often use color and texture to convey raw emotion rather than physical accuracy.

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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.