patina

noun

pa·ti·na pə-ˈtē-nə

ˈpa-tə-nə

plural patinas pə-ˈtē-nəz

ˈpa-tə-nəz

or patinae pə-ˈtē-ˌnē

-ˌnī,

ˈpa-tə-

Synonyms of patina next

: a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color

: a surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use

the beautiful patina of this antique table

: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character

the criminal has acquired a patina of respectability by his friendship with well-known businessmen

: a superficial covering or exterior

The toast was spread with a patina of butter.

Did you know?

When Italians began using patina in the 17th century to refer to the green film that forms on the surface of copper, they were drawing on Latin, in which patina means "a shallow dish." (Presumably, the Italian meaning developed from the observation of such film forming on copper dishes.) By the mid-18th century, English speakers were also calling the green film patina, and by the 20th century, they'd expanded the word's application to surface appearances of things that have grown more beautiful with age or use—think of an old wooden desk or a tarnished silver goblet. Use of the word to refer to thin layers both literal and figurative ("a patina of grime," "a patina of respectability") followed soon after.

Examples of patina in a Sentence

although the winery is brand-new, it has been constructed and decorated to give it a patina of old-world quaintness

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Compare with the Met’s full-size cast, from 1985, and these miniatures cleave the collective anguish into distinct emotions — one figure seems mid-dance, one bored, another ecstatic — in a range of patinas, from dark chocolate to leather. —

Walker Mimms, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 His coy narrative voice and audacious insouciance, thinly disguised under a patina of classical Oxford education and self-deprecating wit, amuse the reader for several hundred pages. —

Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025 High-quality wool and mohair throws, thick cotton, cowhide rugs, and leathers that gain a patina over time are all ideal choices. —

Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Jan. 2025 The oxygen in our air slowly reacts with the alloys in copper to layer on a green coating called a patina. —

Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 16 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for patina