patina

C2 Topic:Materials & Substances

US /pəˈtiː.nə/ UK /ˈpæt.ɪ.nə/ See IPA manual

Freq #51600

Meanings

1

noun
a thin surface layer produced by oxidation or other chemical change, especially the green coating on aged copper or bronze

Rain and air gradually formed a green patina on the bronze roof.
2

noun
a surface color, sheen, or texture acquired through age, wear, handling, or deliberate treatment

The restorer preserved the warm patina on the old ivory handle.
3

noun
figurative: an appearance or quality that has developed over time or covers an underlying reality

Years of ceremony gave the institution a patina of permanence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a thin surface layer... surface filmoxidation layerverdigris

2 noun · a surface color, sheen, or... aged finishsurface charactersheen

3 noun · figurative: an appearance... aura veneer gloss

Opposites

raw surfacenewness

Word family

Derived forms patinaedpatinatepatinationpatinizepatinous

Related forms verdigrisoxidationtarnish weathering

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian patina, 'surface film or coating,' from Latin patina, 'shallow dish or pan,' itself from Greek patane. Why the dish word acquired the coating sense is uncertain. English broadened the term from chemical layers on old objects to any valued finish or figurative aura produced by age.

Topics

Materials & Substances

External links

# patina

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /pəˈtiː.nə/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈpæt.ɪ.nə/
**Frequency rank:** 51600

## Meanings
1. a thin surface layer produced by oxidation or other chemical change, especially the green coating on aged copper or bronze
2. a surface color, sheen, or texture acquired through age, wear, handling, or deliberate treatment
3. figurative: an appearance or quality that has developed over time or covers an underlying reality

## Examples
- Rain and air gradually formed a green patina on the bronze roof.
- The restorer preserved the warm patina on the old ivory handle.
- Years of ceremony gave the institution a patina of permanence.

## Synonyms
- surface film
- aged finish
- sheen
- aura
- veneer

## Antonyms
- raw surface
- newness

## Derived Forms
- patinaed
- patinate
- patination
- patinize
- patinous

## Related Forms
- verdigris
- oxidation
- tarnish
- weathering

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian patina, 'surface film or coating,' from Latin patina, 'shallow dish or pan,' itself from Greek patane. Why the dish word acquired the coating sense is uncertain. English broadened the term from chemical layers on old objects to any valued finish or figurative aura produced by age.

## Topics
- Materials & Substances

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