Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

underpaint

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: un-der-paint
IPA

13

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

9

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To rough in the colors of a painted work of art, prior to painting the final version.

Example Sentences

"The underpainting should be neutral and preferably cool in color. Positive colors may be underpainted with shaded tints of the full color. This is especially true of blues and reds because the oil glazes darken or fade. Reds are best underpainted with vermillion or cadmium."
"Fidelman underpaints the canvas and after it is dry begins the figure of Venus as the conspirators look on sucking their breaths."
"In spite of the dramatically different light in these paintings, I underpainted all of them with the same color, Quinacridone Gold. In High Point, I underpainted the entire painting to give it that warm glow. In the others, I underpainted the foreground with two light washes and the middle ground with one light wash."

Etymology

From under- + paint.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: under

Inflected Forms

underpaints (present, singular) underpainting (participle, present) underpainted (participle, past) underpainted (past)

Frequently Paired Words

underpainting

Questions

What does underpaint mean?: To rough in the colors of a painted work of art, prior to painting the final version.
Where does underpaint come from?: From under- + paint.

How to pronounce underpaint

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “underpaint”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “underpaint”.
Repeat and practice — Say “underpaint” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.