Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

underpainting

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.38 in modern English

Syllables: un-der-paint-ing
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

13

Letters

4

Syllables

10

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

An initial layer of paint, often monochromatic, applied to a ground as a base for subsequent layers.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A painting that the artist later painted over to create the final work.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

present participle and gerund of underpaint

Example Sentences

"He would start with a stenciled acrylic underpainting and finish by making marks with the chalk and charcoal shells."
"At first they wouldn't believe him, but he gave them proof. X-ray the Adulteress, he told them, and you will find an underpainting. They did and found the underpainting van Meegeren had described."

Etymology

From under- + painting.

Word Breakdown

Prefix: under
Suffix: underpaint

Usage

Inflected Forms

underpaintings (plural)

Questions

What does underpainting mean?: An initial layer of paint, often monochromatic, applied to a ground as a base for subsequent layers.
Where does underpainting come from?: From under- + painting.

How to pronounce underpainting

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