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paint

/peɪnt/ noun

In Latin: pigmentum Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about paint at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. A substance used as a coating to protect or decorate a surface (especially a mixture of pigment suspended in a liquid); dries to form a hard coating.
    artists use `paint' and `pigment' interchangeably
  2. (basketball) a space (including the foul line) in front of the basket at each end of a basketball court; usually painted a different color from the rest of the court.
    he hit a jump shot from the top of the key
  3. Makeup consisting of a pink or red powder applied to the cheeks.

verb

  1. Make a painting.
    he painted all day in the garden
  2. Apply paint to; coat with paint.
    We painted the rooms yellow
  3. Make a painting of.
    He painted his mistress many times

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”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)