51Թ

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

patina

[ pat-n-uh, puh-tee-nuh ]

noun

  1. a film or incrustation, usually green, produced by oxidation on the surface of old bronze and often esteemed as being of ornamental value.
  2. a similar film or coloring appearing gradually on some other substance.
  3. a surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age.


patina

1

/ ˈæɪə /

noun

  1. a film of oxide formed on the surface of a metal, esp the green oxidation of bronze or copper See also verdigris
  2. any fine layer on a surface

    a patina of frost

  3. the sheen on a surface that is caused by much handling
“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

patina

2

/ ˈæɪə /

noun

  1. a broad shallow dish used in ancient Rome
“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
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of patina1

1740–50; < Italian: coating < Latin: pan. See paten
Discover More

51Թ History and Origins

Origin of patina1

C18: from Italian: coating, from Latin: patina ²

Origin of patina2

from Latin, from Greek 貹ٲŧ platter
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

He doesn’t shy away from recounting breakups, makeups and legal and personal battles between the friends and bandmates, but there is a patina of sadness over these anecdotes, rather than bitterness or blame-laying.

From

At his Paris studio, Saint-Gaudens began pumping out scaled-down versions, each about 2½ feet tall and in a choice of different bronze patinas — black, green, golden brown — to meet customer demand.

From

A deep brown patina radiates a glow of dark greenish tint.

From

Bush and, especially, his sponsorship the year prior of a successful statewide ballot measure promoting after-school youth programs gave Schwarzenegger a patina of political know-how that helped legitimize his candidacy.

From

Until July 28, the country was authoritarian with a patina of democracy, holding periodic unfree, unfair elections.

From

Advertisement

Related 51Թs

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement