paste
gb/pˈeɪst/ us/pˈeɪst/
A2
English
~ 6800
beilleszt, ragasztó, csiriz, ragasztópaszta, paszta, krém, püré, felragaszt, elver, strassz, strasszkő
VERB
B1
1
beilleszt
B1
Usage pattern:
to paste [something] into [something]
Copy the paragraph, then paste it into the new document.
Másold ki a bekezdést, majd illeszd be az új dokumentumba.
Just paste the link into the chat so everyone can open it.
Csak illeszd be a linket a csetbe, hogy mindenki meg tudja nyitni.
I accidentally pasted the image in the wrong place and had to move it.
You can paste the code snippet below your existing function.
Press Ctrl+V to paste whatever you copied earlier.
Learner examples
Copy the text and paste it here.
Másold ki a szöveget, és illeszd be ide.
Paste the email address into this box.
Illeszd be az e-mail-címet ebbe a mezőbe.
She pasted the picture into the report.
He pasted the password into the login form.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse “copy” and “paste”. “Copy” makes a copy of the text or image and keeps the original, while “paste” puts that copy into a new place. Some also confuse this digital meaning with the physical “paste” used as glue; in computer contexts, “paste” always refers to moving data, not using glue.
Meaning
insert copied data from clipboard
Collocations
copy and paste
|paste into the document
|paste the link
|paste text here
Synonyms
insert (More general and slightly more formal; used for putting something into a document or space, not only via the clipboard.)
|
drop in (Informal; suggests adding something quickly or casually, including into text or messages.)
Antonyms
delete (Removes existing text or data, the opposite of adding it by pasting.)
Themes
technology
|work
|communication
Definition
To put copied text or pictures into a document or box on a screen.
To insert text, images, or other data that have been copied or cut, placing them into a document, field, or file from the clipboard.
A2
2
Usage pattern:
paste for [doing something]
We used flour-and-water paste to stick the paper decorations together.
Lisztből és vízből készült csirizt használtunk, hogy összeragasszuk a papírdíszeket.
You’ll need a strong wallpaper paste for that heavy vinyl.
Ehhez a nehéz viniltapétához erős tapétaragasztóra lesz szükséged.
The children covered their hands in paste during the art project.
Apply a thin layer of paste to the back of the poster before putting it on the wall.
He mixed the powder with water to make a smooth paste for the craft.
Learner examples
She used paste to put the picture on the card.
Ragasztót használt, hogy felragassza a képet a lapra.
The teacher gave the kids paste and paper.
A tanár ragasztót és papírt adott a gyerekeknek.
This paste is too thick; add some water.
Use wallpaper paste to fix the paper on the wall.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think “paste” can be used for any kind of glue. In everyday English, “paste” usually suggests a thick, soft glue, often for paper or wallpaper, not very strong industrial glues.
Meaning
soft glue-like adhesive substance
Collocations
wallpaper paste
|flour-and-water paste
|tube of paste
|glue and paste
Synonyms
glue (The most common general word; can be liquid or thick, while “paste” suggests a thicker, softer form.)
|
adhesive (More formal and technical; used in packaging and product descriptions.)
Antonyms
solvent (A liquid that removes or weakens glue or paste, effectively undoing its sticking action.)
Themes
daily life
|crafts
|daily_life
|work
|housing
Definition
A soft, thick glue used to make things stick together.
A soft, thick, usually wet adhesive substance used to stick materials such as paper or wallpaper together or onto a surface.
NOUN
A2
3
Usage pattern:
paste made from [ingredient]
Add a spoonful of tomato paste to deepen the flavor of the sauce.
Adj egy kanál sűrített paradicsomot a szószhoz, hogy mélyebb legyen az íze.
Stir the curry paste into the hot oil until it becomes fragrant.
Keverd a currypasztát a forró olajba, amíg illatos nem lesz.
She mixed garlic paste with yogurt to make a simple dip.
The recipe calls for almond paste instead of whole nuts.
He made a thick chili paste from dried peppers and spices.
Learner examples
Put some tomato paste in the soup.
Tegyél egy kis sűrített paradicsomot a levesbe.
She likes to cook with curry paste.
Szeret currypasztával főzni.
I used garlic paste in the sauce.
They sell chili paste in small jars.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse “paste” with “pasta” because they look similar. “Paste” is a thick, soft mixture; “pasta” is food like spaghetti or penne. Also, “paste” is usually uncountable in this sense (we say “some tomato paste”, not “a paste”).
Meaning
thick smooth crushed food mix
Collocations
tomato paste
|curry paste
|chili paste
|garlic paste
|wasabi paste
Synonyms
purée (Similar but often a bit thinner and more liquid than many pastes.)
|
spread (Focuses on being put on bread or crackers; not all pastes are used as spreads.)
Antonyms
chunks (Refers to pieces of food that are not crushed or smooth, the opposite texture of a paste.)
Themes
food
|cooking
|food_drink
|daily_life
Definition
A thick, soft food made by crushing things like tomatoes, nuts, or spices.
A thick, smooth food substance made by crushing or blending ingredients into a soft mass, often used in cooking or as a spread.
VERB
B1
4
felragaszt
A2
Usage pattern:
to paste [something] onto [something]
They spent the afternoon pasting posters onto every available wall.
Azzal töltötték a délutánt, hogy plakátokat ragasztottak fel minden szabad falfelületre.
Paste the label on carefully so there are no air bubbles.
Óvatosan ragaszd fel a címkét, hogy ne maradjanak alatta légbuborékok.
The children pasted colored paper shapes to make a collage.
He pasted the notice to the door with a thick glue.
Volunteers went out at night to paste up campaign flyers.
Learner examples
Paste the picture onto the page.
Ragaszd fel a képet az oldalra.
She pasted the sign on the door.
Felragasztotta a feliratot az ajtóra.
He pasted the photos into his scrapbook.
We pasted small stars on the blue paper.
Common mistake:
Learners may say “paste on” without an object, e.g. *“I will paste on”*. In this sense, “paste” is a transitive verb and needs an object: “paste the picture on”, “paste the sign on the wall”.
Meaning
stick something using paste or glue
Collocations
paste posters on the wall
|paste the label on
|pasted to the wall
|paste the pieces together
Synonyms
stick (Very common and general; does not specifically mention using paste or glue, just the result of things being fixed together.)
|
glue (Focuses on using glue as a substance; “paste” often suggests spreading a thicker adhesive over a larger area.)
Antonyms
peel off (Means to remove something that was stuck to a surface, the opposite of pasting it on.)
Themes
daily life
|crafts
|daily_life
|work
|housing
Definition
To make something stick to a surface by using paste or glue.
To attach something to a surface by spreading paste or glue on it and pressing it into place.
VERB
C1
INFORMAL
5
elver
B1
Usage pattern:
to paste [someone]
The heavyweight completely pasted his opponent in the second round.
A nehézsúlyú bokszoló a második menetben teljesen elverte az ellenfelét.
Our team got pasted 5–0 in the final.
A döntőben 5–0-ra elverték a csapatunkat.
If you say that to him again, he’ll paste you.
They pasted the visitors in the first half and never slowed down.
She absolutely pasted me in that video game.
Learner examples
Our team got pasted in the game.
A meccsen csúnyán elverték a csapatunkat.
He pasted his opponent in the first round.
Már az első menetben elverte az ellenfelét.
We pasted them 4–0 last night.
If you fight him, he will paste you.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this meaning is common in all situations. It is informal and often sounds strong or aggressive, so it is usually used in sports talk, joking threats, or very casual speech, not in formal writing.
Meaning
hit or defeat very heavily
Collocations
paste someone
|got pasted
|paste the other team
|pasted in the first round
Synonyms
smash (Emphasizes very hard hitting or a very big win; slightly stronger and more dramatic than “paste” in many contexts.)
|
thrash (Common in sports; focuses on winning by a large score, not usually on physically hitting someone.)
Antonyms
lose to (Means to be defeated by someone or a team, the opposite of pasting them.)
Themes
violence
|sports
|daily_life
Definition
To hit someone very hard, or to win against someone by a lot (informal).
(Informal) To hit someone very hard, or to defeat someone or a team by a very large margin.
NOUN
C2
6
Usage pattern:
paste jewelry
Her necklace looked expensive, but the stones were only paste.
A nyaklánca drágának tűnt, de a kövek csak strasszkövek voltak.
The antique dealer explained that the brooch was paste, not real diamonds.
A régiségkereskedő elmagyarázta, hogy a brossban strasszkövek vannak, nem valódi gyémántok.
Many 19th‑century tiaras were made with fine paste instead of gemstones.
He specialized in restoring vintage paste jewelry.
Learner examples
The stones in this ring are paste, not real.
A kövek ebben a gyűrűben strasszkövek, nem valódiak.
She bought a paste necklace for the play.
Strassznyakláncot vett a színdarabhoz.
This old brooch has paste instead of diamonds.
Common mistake:
Learners rarely know this meaning and may think “paste jewelry” has something to do with glue. In this sense, “paste” is a special kind of glass that looks like gemstones.
Meaning
glass used to imitate gems
Collocations
paste jewelry
|paste diamonds
|string of paste
|paste necklace
Synonyms
rhinestone (Common word for shiny fake stones; often similar in use, though “paste” is more traditional and can sound slightly more refined or old-fashioned.)
Antonyms
real gemstone (A naturally occurring precious or semi-precious stone, the genuine material that paste only imitates.)
Themes
fashion
|materials
|arts_entertainment
|clothing
|daily_life
Definition
A kind of special glass that looks like a real gemstone and is used in cheap or costume jewelry.
A type of high-quality glass cut and polished to look like a gemstone, used especially in imitation jewelry.
Grammar
Dictionary form
paste
IPA
GB/pˈeɪst/
US/pˈeɪst/
Syllables & stress
paste (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (paste)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: paste
- Plural: paste, pastes
Verb
- Base: paste
- 3rd Person Singular: pastes
- Present Participle: pasting
- Past: pasted
Word family
Forms
pastes
noun
pasting
verb
pasted
verb
Related words
pasty
adjective
Expressions
cut and paste
1/kˈʌt ˈænd pˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
move digital data elsewhere
To remove text or other data from one place and then put it into another place, usually on a computer; sometimes also to take ideas or text from another source with little or no change.
Examples
- You can cut and paste this sentence and move it to the top of the paragraph.
- The layout looks like it was just cut and paste from another website.
- Don’t just cut and paste from last year’s report; update the numbers and examples.
paste in
1/pˈeɪst ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
paste copied data into place
To put copied text, images, or other data into a particular place in a document or form.
Examples
- Paste in the new paragraph after the introduction.
- Just paste in your tracking number and the site will find your package.
- She pasted in the code snippet where the instructions told her to.
paste into
1/pˈeɪst ˈɪntu/
phrasal verb
paste copied data into something
To put copied text or other data inside a document, program, or box on a screen.
Examples
- Paste the chart into the presentation on slide three.
- He pasted the results into a spreadsheet for analysis.
- You can paste the photo into the chat window so everyone can see it.
paste on a smile
1/pˈeɪst ˈɔn ə smˈaɪl/
idiom
put on a fake smile
To smile even when you do not feel happy, so that other people think you are okay.
Examples
- She pasted on a smile and walked into the meeting, even though she felt terrible inside.
- He pasted on a smile for the cameras, hiding his disappointment.
- You don’t have to paste on a smile for me; I can tell you’re upset.
paste over
1/pˈeɪst ˈoʊvɚ/
phrasal verb
cover completely by pasting over
To cover something by sticking paper or another material on top of it, so you cannot see the thing under it anymore.
Examples
- They pasted over the old posters with new ones for the concert.
- The graffiti was pasted over with a large advertising billboard.
- You can paste over the mistake with a new label.
paste together
1/pˈeɪst təɡˈɛðɚ/
phrasal verb
join pieces using paste or glue
To join separate pieces of paper or other light material by sticking them with paste or glue.
Examples
- The children pasted together colored paper to make chains for the party.
- She pasted the broken pages together to repair the book.
- We pasted together a quick model of the building for the meeting.
paste up
1/pˈeɪst ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
stick posters or papers up
To stick posters, pictures, or pieces of paper onto a wall or board using paste or glue.
Examples
- Volunteers went out at night to paste up posters around the city.
- They pasted up a big collage of photos in the hallway.
- The advertising company was fined for illegally pasting up flyers on public buildings.
copy and paste
1/kˈɑpi ˈænd pˈeɪst/
fixed phrase
Duplicate and insert digital content
To make a copy of text, images, or files on a computer and put them somewhere else.
Examples
- You can copy and paste the link into your browser.
- You can just copy and paste the address from the email into your browser.
- I copied and pasted the paragraph into my essay.
- Don’t copy and paste whole paragraphs from the internet into your essay.
- I’ll copy and paste the table into the new document so we don’t have to rebuild it.