watercolor

watercolor — noun

1. a coloured powder mixed with a water-based liquid, used by artists to create sof

1.nounA2
Definition

a coloured powder mixed with a water-based liquid, used by artists to create soft, see-through layers in their paintings

Example

Linh bought a set of watercolor paints for her art class.

collocation: watercolor paints

The artist mixed more water into the watercolor to make the shade lighter.

Common collocations
  • watercolor paints
  • tube of watercolor
  • set of watercolors
  • paint in watercolor
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

watercolor (uncountable: the medium)

a watercolor / watercolors (countable: specific types or tubes)

Usage Note

Can be uncountable when referring to the medium in general ('She works mainly in watercolor'), or countable when referring to individual paint tubes or types ('a set of twelve watercolors').

Common Mistakes

The painting is made of watercolor.
The painting is done in watercolor.
Use the preposition 'in' (not 'of') when describing the medium of a picture.
I painted a watercolor with oil paints.
I painted a watercolor using water-based paints.
Watercolor and oil are different media and should not be mixed in the same description.

2. the skill or practice of making pictures using paint that dissolves in water, in

2.nounB1
Definition

the skill or practice of making pictures using paint that dissolves in water, instead of oil or other substances

Example

Jin took a course in watercolor to improve his painting skills.

preposition phrase: course in watercolor

Watercolor became a popular art form in England during the late eighteenth century.

Common collocations
  • study watercolor
  • course in watercolor
  • work in watercolor
  • watercolor technique
Synonyms

Grammar Patterns

watercolor (as subject)

in watercolor (prepositional phrase)

watercolor + noun (attributive)

Usage Note

Typically uncountable. Common with the preposition 'in' ('skilled in watercolor') or 'with' ('painted with watercolor').

Common Mistakes

She studies watercolors at the university.' (meaning the technique)
She studies watercolor at the university.
Use the uncountable form (no -s) when referring to the skill or practice.

3. an image or piece of art created by applying water-based paint to paper or a sim

3.nounA2
Definition

an image or piece of art created by applying water-based paint to paper or a similar surface

Example

Christopher hung his watercolor of the old harbour on the living-room wall.

pattern: watercolor of [subject]

The gallery displayed several watercolors from the early nineteenth century.

Common collocations
  • watercolor of
  • paint a watercolor
  • watercolor exhibition
  • sell a watercolor
Synonyms
  • watercolour

    British spelling

  • painting

    broader term — includes works in oil, acrylic, and other media

Grammar Patterns

a watercolor (countable noun)

watercolor of + subject

possessive + watercolor

Usage Note

Countable noun. You can own, sell, or display a watercolor. The phrase 'watercolor of' introduces the subject depicted.

Common Mistakes

I bought a watercolor paint of the beach.
I bought a watercolor of the beach.
'Watercolor' alone can mean a painting; do not add 'paint' when referring to the finished picture.

Word family

  • watercolorist
    nounB2
  • watercolored
    adjectiveC1
  • watercolour
    nounA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Watercolor, gouache, tempera, and acrylic are all water-based paints, but they differ in opacity and working properties. Watercolor is known for its transparency — you see the paper through thin layers of pigment. Gouache is essentially an opaque version of watercolor: it contains larger pigment particles and a white filler, so you can paint lighter colours over darker ones. Tempera uses egg yolk as a binder and dries to a matte, chalky finish; it was widely used before oil paint became common. Acrylic is a modern synthetic paint that dries very quickly and becomes water-resistant when dry. For a beginner wanting soft, translucent washes, watercolor is the natural choice; for solid, flat colour without brushstrokes, gouache or tempera may be a better fit.

watercolor ↗gouachetemperaacrylic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • set of watercolors
  • watercolor technique
  • watercolor painting

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishOld FrenchLatinEnglish

Formed in English by combining 'water' (from Old English 'wæter') and 'color' (from Old French 'colour', from Latin 'color'). The compound was first used in the 16th century to describe paints that use water as the mixing liquid, distinguishing them from oil-based paints. The technique itself is much older, but the English name became established as the medium gained popularity in Europe.