wallpaper
/ˈwɔːlpeɪpə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwɔːlpeɪpər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈwȯl-ˌpā-pər/ (ame, mw) · /ˈwɔːlˌpeɪ.pər/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈwɑːlˌpeɪ.pɚ/ (ame, ipa)
wallpaper — noun
- wallpapersingular
- wallpapersplural
1. thick decorative paper printed with colours or patterns, intended for covering i
thick decorative paper printed with colours or patterns, intended for covering interior walls and ceilings.
Meera chose a blue floral wallpaper for her bedroom to match the curtains.
collocation: floral wallpaper / patterned wallpaper
The old wallpaper in the hallway was peeling off, so Wei decided to replace it.
Putri's living room has wallpaper with a subtle silver pattern that reflects the light.
Installing wallpaper requires careful measuring and a steady hand to avoid air bubbles.
Dahlia picked a wallpaper with thick vertical stripes to make the ceiling look higher.
- wall covering
a broader term that includes wallpaper, fabric, vinyl, and other materials used on interior walls
- paper
informal shortening, used mainly in casual speech ('ready to put the paper up')
- paint
a liquid coating applied with a brush or roller, not paper sheets
用法筆記
Wallpaper is most often uncountable: 'We bought some wallpaper.' When referring to individual types, it can be countable: 'There are many beautiful wallpapers to choose from.'
常見錯誤
2. a picture, design, or pattern displayed as the background on a computer, phone,
a picture, design, or pattern displayed as the background on a computer, phone, or similar screen, covering part or all of the display area.
Lukas set a photo of the mountains as the wallpaper on his laptop.
collocation: set/change [something] as wallpaper
Defne changes her phone wallpaper every week to match her mood.
Many websites offer free wallpapers in different sizes for various screen resolutions.
The default wallpaper on Felipe's tablet shows a sunset over the ocean.
- background
a more general term; wallpaper specifically suggests a decorative or photographic image
- desktop
short for desktop background, common in computing contexts ('set a new desktop')
用法筆記
Unlike the wall-covering sense, this meaning is regularly used as both countable and uncountable: 'I found a nice wallpaper online' or 'I downloaded several new wallpapers.'
常見錯誤
wallpaper — verb
- wallpaperpresent simple I / you / we / they
- wallpapers3rd person singular
- wallpapering-ing form
- wallpaperedpast simple
1. to decorate a room by fixing decorative paper sheets onto its interior walls and
to decorate a room by fixing decorative paper sheets onto its interior walls and ceiling.
Asher spent the whole weekend wallpapering the nursery for the new baby.
pattern: wallpaper + direct object (room name)
Christopher had never wallpapered a room before, so he watched several tutorial videos.
The contractor wallpapered the dining room in two days with a team of three workers.
You must strip the old layer and fill cracks before you wallpaper a wall.
- cover with wallpaper
a longer phrasal expression that sounds more deliberate than the single verb
- strip
to remove wallpaper from walls ('strip the old wallpaper before painting')
文法句型
wallpaper + direct object (room / wall)
用法筆記
This verb is always transitive — you wallpaper a room, a wall, or a ceiling, not just 'wallpaper' on its own. The passive form is common: 'The hallway was wallpapered last spring.'