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patina¹ Definition

pati·na (pat'n ə)

noun pl. -·nae′-nē′

paten

Etymology: L

patina² Definition

pati·na (pat'n ə, pə tē)

noun

  1. a fine crust or film on bronze or copper, usually green or greenish-blue, formed by natural oxidation and often valued as being ornamental
  2. any thin coating or color change resulting from age, as on old wood or silver

Etymology: Fr < It, orig., tarnish (on a metal plate), prob. < L, pan: see patella

patina Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • acquire: Our tools acquire a slight brown patina over time, that is all.
  • enhance: This will encourage a hard skin to form which enhances the patina.
  • develop: In time platinum develops a natural patina that many people prefer over the 'just polished ' look.
  • age: The table has been hand made in England and tastefully antiquated and distressed to give a wonderful aged patina.
  • give: The wood has been supplied by James Latham and Co from a sustainable source and has been weathered to give a silvery patina.
  • have: Newly sanded wood is shown on the left whilst the right hand side still has a weathered patina showing up black.

Preposition: over

%: There is a cream patina over 100 % of the surface.

Adjective modifier

  • rich: Hard lines seem softened by the rich blue patina, evenly applied in soft patches.
  • brown: Our tools acquire a slight brown patina over time, that is all.
  • dark: This standing male figure is an ancestor figure made from wood of a dark patina.
  • beautiful: The lunch counter is wooden, with a beautiful patina of age.
  • green: The vessel is covered in a light green patina due to bronze disease.
  • natural: The rich, natural patina brings out the grain of the.. .

Modifies a noun

  • finish: Made from solid wood and decorated with a patina effect finish in white, this headboard will grace your bedroom for years to come.
  • effect: Together with the patina effect color wash it convincingly creates the appearance of a true bronze casting.

Noun used with modifier

  • cream: There is a cream patina over 100 % of the surface.
  • desert: Some of them have no patina and are very fresh, whereas others have the typical brown-black desert patina.

Preposition: of

  • age: The lunch counter is wooden, with a beautiful patina of age.
  • respectability: Society demands, however, that we hide this nature under a patina of respectability.
  • time: Yes the cost would be prohibitive but it would last forever and the patina of time would age the leather beautifully.

Browse dictionary entries near patina

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