paint

1 /peInt/ noun

1 (U) a liquid that you put on a surface to make it a particular colour: a can of blue paint | a coat of paint (=a layer of paint): The whole house could do with a fresh coat of paint. | wet paint (=used as a warning on a sign)

2 paints (plural) a set of small tubes or dry blocks of coloured substance, used for painting pictures: oil paints

3 (U) old-fashioned make­up

2 verb

1 (I, T) to put paint on a surface: I wear old clothes when I'm painting. | The ceiling needs painting. | paint sth blue/red/green etc: We painted the door blue.

2

a) (T) to make a picture, design etc using paint: paint a picture/portrait etc: Turner is famous for painting landscapes.

b) (I) to use paint to make pictures or designs: paint in oils/watercolours etc (=using a particular kind of paint): Jana likes to paint in watercolours.

c) (T) to make a picture of someone or something using paint: I'll paint the view from the window.

3 (T) to put a coloured substance on part of your face or body to make it more attractive: paint your lips/fingernails etc: Her lips and fingernails were painted bright red.

4 paint a picture of sth to describe something in a particular way: paint a grim/rosy/gloomy picture of sth: Dickens painted a grim picture of Victorian factory conditions.

5 paint sth with a broad brush to describe something without giving many details

—see also: broadbrush

6 paint the town (red) informal to go out to bars, clubs etc to enjoy yourself

7 (T) to put medicine on a part of your body with a brush

—see also: not be as black as you are painted black 1 (7) paint sth in phrasal verb (T) to fill a space in a picture or add more to it using paint: The additional figures were painted in at a later date. paint sth out phrasal verb (T) to remove a design, figure etc from a picture or surface by covering it with more paint: On the side of the van the company name had been painted out. paint sth over phrasal verb (T) to cover a picture or surface with new paint