impasto

C2 Topic:Register & Style

US /ɪmˈpæs.toʊ/ UK /ɪmˈpæs.təʊ/ See IPA manual

Freq #151635

Meanings

1

noun
painting: the technique of applying paint thickly enough for brush or palette-knife marks to remain visibly raised

The painter used impasto to make the highlights catch the gallery light.
2

noun
a thickly painted area or the raised paint itself

The white impasto along the sleeve projected from the canvas.
3

verb
rare: to apply or render in thick, raised paint

She impastoed the flowers with quick strokes of the palette knife.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · painting: the technique of... thick-paint techniquetextured painting

2 noun · a thickly painted area or... raised paintpaint texture

3 verb · rare: to apply or render in... paint thicklytexture

Word family

Derived forms impastoed

Related forms palette knife brushwork texturescumble

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian impasto, 'dough, paste, mixture,' from impastare, 'to knead or mix into a paste.' Painters applied the term to thick masses of pigment whose physical texture remains visible and catches light across the surface.

Topics

External links

# impasto

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ɪmˈpæs.toʊ/
**IPA (UK):** /ɪmˈpæs.təʊ/
**Frequency rank:** 151635

## Meanings
1. painting: the technique of applying paint thickly enough for brush or palette-knife marks to remain visibly raised
2. a thickly painted area or the raised paint itself
3. rare: to apply or render in thick, raised paint

## Examples
- The painter used impasto to make the highlights catch the gallery light.
- The white impasto along the sleeve projected from the canvas.
- She impastoed the flowers with quick strokes of the palette knife.

## Synonyms
- thick-paint technique
- raised paint
- paint texture

## Derived Forms
- impastoed

## Related Forms
- palette knife
- brushwork
- texture
- scumble

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian impasto, 'dough, paste, mixture,' from impastare, 'to knead or mix into a paste.' Painters applied the term to thick masses of pigment whose physical texture remains visible and catches light across the surface.

## Topics
- Register & Style
- General Vocabulary

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