paint
gb/pˈeɪnt/ us/pˈeɪnt/
A2
English
~ 3000
fest, lefest, festék, megfest, érzékletesen leír, képet fest valamiről
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
to paint [something] [color]
She decided to paint the living room walls blue.
Úgy döntött, kékre festi a nappali falait.
The artist will paint the portrait next week.
A művész jövő héten fogja megfesteni a portrét.
We need to paint the fence before winter arrives.
He painted the door with two coats of red gloss.
Learner examples
I will paint my room green.
Zöldre fogom festeni a szobámat.
She likes to paint pictures of flowers.
Szeret virágokról képeket festeni.
We paint the house every summer.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'paint' with 'draw'. 'Paint' involves applying color, while 'draw' is usually with pen or pencil lines.
Meaning
Cover with colored liquid
Collocations
paint a wall
|paint a picture
|paint the ceiling
|paint the fence
Synonyms
coat (More general; can refer to covering with any substance, not only color.)
Antonyms
strip (Means to remove a covering, including paint, from a surface.)
Themes
art
|daily life
|home improvement
|housing
|daily_life
|work
Definition
To put colored liquid on a surface with a brush or other tool.
To apply a colored liquid or substance to a surface using a brush, roller, spray, or similar tool.
NOUN
A2
2
festék
A2
The paint is peeling off the old fence.
A régi kerítésről hámlik a festék.
We bought some white paint for the kitchen.
Vettünk egy kis fehér festéket a konyhába.
Oil paint takes longer to dry than acrylic paint.
Learner examples
The paint is red.
A festék piros.
I need more paint for the wall.
Több festékre van szükségem a falhoz.
The paint is on my hands.
Meaning
Colored liquid for surfaces
Collocations
oil paint
|water-based paint
|fresh coat of paint
|paint supplies
Synonyms
coating (General term for any protective or decorative layer; not limited to color.)
Antonyms
bare surface (Describes a surface without any coating or paint.)
Themes
art
|home improvement
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A colored liquid that you put on walls, wood, or other surfaces.
A colored liquid or substance that is applied to surfaces to protect them or change their appearance.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to paint [a picture/portrait/scene]
He likes to paint landscapes in his free time.
Szabadidejében szeret tájképeket festeni.
The artist painted a portrait of her grandmother.
A művész megfestette a nagymamája portréját.
She painted the scene from memory.
Learner examples
I like to paint animals.
Szeretek állatokat festeni.
She paints pictures of the sea.
Képeket fest a tengerről.
He paints his family.
Meaning
Make an image with paints
Collocations
paint a portrait
|paint a landscape
|paint from memory
Synonyms
depict (More formal and general; can use any medium, not just paint.)
Antonyms
erase (To remove an image or mark that has been made.)
Themes
art
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a picture using paints.
To create a picture or design by applying paints to a surface such as canvas or paper.
VERB
B2
4
Usage pattern:
to paint [a picture/image] of [something]
The author paints a vivid picture of life in the 19th century.
Az író élénk képet fest a 19. századi életről.
She painted a grim image of the future during her speech.
Beszédében komor képet festett a jövőről.
He painted the scene so well that I could almost see it.
Learner examples
He paints a picture of the city with words.
Szavaival fest képet a városról.
She paints the story in detail.
Részletesen és érzékletesen írja le a történetet.
The book paints life long ago.
Common mistake:
'Paint' here is figurative; learners sometimes think it means literally using paint.
Meaning
Describe vividly in words
Collocations
paint a vivid picture
|paint in detail
Synonyms
portray (Often used in both literal and figurative contexts; broader than 'paint'.)
Antonyms
obscure (To make something unclear or difficult to understand.)
Themes
communication
|arts_entertainment
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To use words to make someone imagine something clearly.
To describe something in detail so that it creates a clear mental image for the listener or reader.
Grammar
Dictionary form
paint
IPA
GB/pˈeɪnt/
US/pˈeɪnt/
Syllables & stress
paint (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (paint)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: paint
- Plural: paint, paints
Verb
- Base: paint
- 3rd Person Singular: paints
- Present Participle: painting
- Past: painted
Word family
Forms
paints
noun
painting
verb
painted
verb
Core family
painter
noun A2
Related words
repaint
verb B1
paintbrush
noun A2
Negative and opposite forms
unpainted
adjective
Advanced or less common
paintwork
noun
paintable
adjective
Expressions
fresh coat of paint
1/fɹˈɛʃ kˈoʊt əv pˈeɪnt/
fixed phrase
New layer of color on surface
A new layer of paint put on something to make it look better or protect it.
Examples
- The room looks great after a fresh coat of paint.
- The old bench just needs a fresh coat of paint.
like watching paint dry
1/lˈaɪk wˈɔt͡ʃɪŋ pˈeɪnt dɹˈaɪ/
idiom
informal
Very boring to watch
Used to say something is very boring to watch or do.
Examples
- This lecture is like watching paint dry.
- For me, baseball is like watching paint dry.
paint a picture
1/pˈeɪnt ə pˈɪkt͡ʃɚ/
idiom
Describe something in detail
To describe something clearly so people can imagine it.
Examples
- The journalist painted a picture of corruption within the government.
- In her letter, she painted a picture of her new life abroad.
paint oneself into a corner
1/pˈeɪnt wˌʌnsˈɛlf ˈɪntu ə kˈɔɹnɚ/
idiom
informal
Trap oneself with own actions
To do something that makes it hard for you to get out of a bad situation later.
Examples
- By agreeing to all their demands, he painted himself into a corner.
- She painted herself into a corner by lying about her qualifications.