Paint

[peynt] /peɪnt/

noun
1.
a substance composed of solid coloring matter suspended in a liquid medium and applied as a protective or decorative coating to various surfaces, or to canvas or other materials in producing a work of art.
2.
an application of this.
3.
the dried surface pigment:
Don’t scuff the paint.
4.
the solid coloring matter alone; pigment.
5.
facial cosmetics, especially lipstick, rouge, etc., designed to heighten natural color.
6.
Chiefly Western U.S. a pied, calico, or spotted horse or pony; pinto.
verb (used with object)
7.
to coat, cover, or decorate (something) with paint:
to paint a fence.
8.
to produce (a picture, design, etc.) in paint:
to paint a portrait.
9.
to represent in paint, as in oils, tempera, or watercolor:
to paint an actress as the Muse of tragedy.
10.
to depict as if by ; describe vividly in words:
The ads painted the resort as a winter wonderland.
11.
to color by or as if by :
Sunset painted the clouds pink.
12.
to apply a substance to, as a liquid medicine or a cosmetic:
to paint a cut with iodine.
verb (used without object)
13.
to coat or cover anything with paint.
14.
to engage in as an art:
She has begun to paint in her spare time.
15.
to put on or use facial cosmetics.
Idioms
16.
paint the town red, Informal. to celebrate boisterously, especially by making a round of stops at bars and nightclubs.
Also, paint the town.
/peɪnt/
noun
1.
a substance used for decorating or protecting a surface, esp a mixture consisting of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid, that when applied to a surface dries to form a hard coating
2.
a dry film of paint on a surface
3.
the solid pigment of a paint before it is suspended in liquid
4.
(informal) face make-up, such as rouge
5.
short for greasepaint
verb
6.
to make (a picture) of (a figure, landscape, etc) with paint applied to a surface such as canvas
7.
to coat (a surface) with paint, as in decorating
8.
(transitive) to apply (liquid) onto (a surface): her mother painted the cut with antiseptic
9.
(transitive) to apply make-up onto (the face, lips, etc)
10.
(transitive) to describe vividly in words
11.
(informal) paint the town red, to celebrate uninhibitedly; go on a spree
v.

early 13c., “represent in painting or drawing, portray;” early 14c., “paint the surface of, color, stain;” from Old French peintier “to paint,” from peint, past participle of peindre “to paint,” from Latin pingere “to paint, represent in a picture, stain; embroider, tattoo,” from PIE root *peig-/*peik- “to cut” (cf. Sanskrit pimsati “hews out, cuts, carves, adorns,” Old Church Slavonic pila “file, saw,” Lithuanian pela “file”). Sense evolution between PIE and Latin was, presumably, from “decorate with cut marks” to “decorate” to “decorate with color.” Cf. Sanskrit pingah “reddish,” pesalah “adorned, decorated, lovely,” Old Church Slavonic pegu “variegated;” Greek poikilos “variegated;” Old High German fehjan “to adorn;” Old Church Slavonic pisati, Lithuanian piesiu “to write.” Probably also representing the “cutting” branch of the family is Old English feol (see file (n.)).

To paint the town (red) “go on a spree” first recorded 1884; to paint (someone or something) black “represent it as wicked or evil” is from 1590s. Adjective paint-by-numbers “simple” is attested by 1970; the art-for-beginners kits themselves date to c.1953.
n.

late 13c. (in compounds), “that with which something is painted,” from paint (v.). Of rouge, make-up, etc., from 1650s. Paint brush attested from 1827.

paint (pānt)
n.
A solution or suspension of one or more medicaments applied to the skin with a brush or large applicator. v. paint·ed, paint·ing, paints
To apply medicine to; swab.

noun

(also paint cards) Playing cards, esp picture cards (1931+)

Related Terms

red paint, war paint

Jezebel “painted her face” (2 Kings 9:30); and the practice of painting the face and the eyes seems to have been common (Jer. 4:30; Ezek. 23:40). An allusion to this practice is found in the name of Job’s daughter (42:14) Kerenhappuch (q.v.). Paintings in the modern sense of the word were unknown to the ancient Jews.