51³Ô¹Ï

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View synonyms for

graffiti

[ gruh-fee-tee ]

noun

  1. plural of graffito.
  2. (used with a plural verb) markings, as initials, slogans, or drawings, written, spray-painted, or sketched on a sidewalk, wall of a building or public restroom, or the like:

    These graffiti are evidence of the neighborhood's decline.

  3. (used with a singular verb) such markings as a whole or as constituting a particular group:

    Not much graffiti appears around here these days.



graffiti

/ É¡°ùæˈ´Ú¾±Ë³Ù¾±Ë /

plural noun

  1. sometimes with singular verb drawings, messages, etc, often obscene, scribbled on the walls of public lavatories, advertising posters, etc
  2. archaeol inscriptions or drawings scratched or carved onto a surface, esp rock or pottery
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged†2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage Note

In formal speech and writing graffiti takes a plural verb. In less formal contexts it is sometimes considered a mass noun and is used with a singular verb. The singular graffito is found mostly in archaeological and other technical writing.
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Derived Forms

  • ²µ°ù²¹´Úˈ´Ú¾±³Ù¾±²õ³Ù, noun
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Other 51³Ô¹Ï Forms

  • ²µ°ù²¹´Ú·´Ú¾±î€ƒt¾±²õ³Ù noun
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of graffiti1

1850–55; < Italian, plural of graffito incised inscription or design, derivative with -ito -ite 2 of graffiare to scratch, perhaps influenced by presumed Latin *²µ°ù²¹±è³óÄ«°ù±ð to write; both probably derivative of Latin graphium stylus < Greek ²µ°ù²¹±è³ó±ðî´Ç²Ô; graphic, grapho-, graft 1
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51³Ô¹Ï History and Origins

Origin of graffiti1

C19: graffito from Italian: a little scratch, from graffio, from Latin graphium stylus, from Greek grapheion; see graft 1
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

There was also “extensive graffiti vandalism on the sandstone buildings and columns†with “vile and hateful sentiments that we condemn in the strongest terms.â€

From

When graffiti appears on the retaining wall below the freeway, she takes a photo and uploads it to MyLA311 to get it painted over.

From

Sam was lying in bed one morning when her tenant in a house she owned in Margate sent her a photo of a piece of graffiti that had appeared on the wall outside.

From

On the walls, someone had spray painted graffiti calling Alawites dogs and apostates.

From

Example: Judy Baca’s painting of an Olympic runner on the 110 Freeway near the 4th Street exit was whitewashed not by vandals but by an official transit graffiti removal contractor.

From

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Gräfenberg spotgraffito