Definition of PATINA

patina

Plural: patinae, patinas

Noun

  • A green or brown film on old bronze, or a surface appearance.
  • a fine coating of oxide on the surface of a metal
  • A paten, flat type of dish.
  • The colour or incrustation which age and wear give to (mainly metallic) objects; especially, the green rust which covers works of art such as ancient bronzes, coins and medals.
  • A green colour, tinted with grey, like that of bronze patina.
  • A gloss or superficial layer.

Adj

  • Of a green colour, tinted with grey, like that of bronze patina.

Examples

  • he enjoys a patina of respect by the police, despite being an ex-criminal
  • Over years of Scrabble, his board developed a beautiful patina from countless tile slides.

Origin / Etymology

Borrowed from Italian patina, from Latin patina (“dish, pan”), itself a borrowing from Ancient Greek πατάνη (patánē), either from Proto-Indo-European *peth₂- (“to spread”) or from Pre-Greek. Doublet of paten, patena, and patine.

Scrabble Score: 8

patina: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
patina: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
patina: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 10

patina: valid Words With Friends Word