tempera

noun

tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə 

1

: a process of painting in which an albuminous or colloidal medium (such as egg yolk) is employed as a vehicle instead of oil

also : a painting done in tempera

2

: poster color

Examples of tempera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two works of egg tempera on calfskin from New York painter Altoon Sultan-Dark Corner (2021) and Lines and loop (2021), adorn the walls. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

The three were a match: they were all made using egg tempera and oil paint, along with two coats of gesso used as a base. —Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019

Layered hues from green through shades of golden ocher down to umber—in classic tempera painting, this would be exactly the understructure for (white) skin tones. —Moritz Scheper, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024

Writing on a computer and MIDI just doesn’t translate the same way, like oil versus tempera versus digital painting. —Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "tempera, mixture, temperament, constitution" (in modern Italian usually tempra in figurative senses), noun derivative of temperare, temprare "to mix in the proper proportion, moderate," going back to Latin temperāre "to moderate, bring to a proper strength or consistency by mixing" — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tempera

noun

tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə 

: a process of painting in which the colors are mixed with substances (as egg, glue, or gum) other than oil