7 VERB If you paint a grim or vivid picture of something, you give a description of it that is grim or vivid. □ [V n] The report paints a grim picture of life there.
8 → see also gloss paint , oil paint , painting , poster paint , war paint
paint|box /pe I ntbɒks/ (paintboxes ) N‑COUNT A paintbox is a small flat plastic or metal container with a number of little blocks of paint inside which can be made wet and used to paint a picture.
paint|brush /pe I ntbrʌʃ/ (paintbrushes ) also paint brush , paint-brush N‑COUNT A paintbrush is a brush which you use for painting.
paint|er /pe I ntə r / (painters )
1 N‑COUNT A painter is an artist who paints pictures.
2 N‑COUNT A painter is someone who paints walls, doors, and some other parts of buildings as their job.
paint|er|ly /pe I ntə r li/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Painterly means relating to or characteristic of painting or painters. □ …his painterly talents. □ The film has a painterly eye.
paint|ing ◆◆◇ /pe I nt I ŋ/ (paintings )
1 N‑COUNT A painting is a picture which someone has painted. □ [+ of ] …a large oil-painting of Queen Victoria.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Painting is the activity of painting pictures. □ …two hobbies she really enjoyed, painting and gardening.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Painting is the activity of painting doors, walls, and some other parts of buildings. □ …painting and decorating.
pai nt strip|per (paint strippers ) N‑VAR Paint stripper is a liquid which you use in order to remove old paint from things such as doors or pieces of furniture.
paint|work /pe I ntwɜː r k/ N‑UNCOUNT The paintwork of a building, room, or vehicle is the covering of paint on it, or the parts of it that are painted. □ The paintwork, the wardrobes and the bedside cupboards were coffee-cream.
pair ◆◆◇ /peə r / (pairs , pairing , paired )
1 N‑COUNT A pair of things are two things of the same size and shape that are used together or are both part of something, for example shoes, earrings, or parts of the body. □ [+ of ] …a pair of socks. □ …trainers that cost up to 90 pounds a pair. □ [+ of ] 72,000 pairs of hands clapped in unison to the song.
2 N‑COUNT Some objects that have two main parts of the same size and shape are referred to as a pair , for example a pair of trousers or a pair of scissors . □ [+ of ] …a pair of faded jeans. □ [+ of ] …a pair of binoculars.
3 N‑SING You can refer to two people as a pair when they are standing or walking together or when they have some kind of relationship with each other. □ [+ of ] John and Jeremy are a pair of friends who work together at a law firm.
4 VERB [usu passive] If one thing is paired with another, it is put with it or considered with it. □ [be V -ed + with ] The trainees will then be paired with experienced managers. ● pair|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the pairing of these two fine musicians.
5 → see also au pair
6 PHRASE If you say that someone is or has a safe pair of hands , you mean that they are reliable and will not make any serious mistakes. [BRIT , JOURNALISM ] □ He has now held five cabinet posts and remains a safe pair of hands.
▸ pair off PHRASAL VERB When people pair off or are paired off , they form a pair, often in order to become girlfriend and boyfriend. □ [V n P + with ] I knew she wouldn't be able to resist pairing me off with someone. □ [V P ] The squad members paired off to find places to eat and sleep. [Also V P + with ]
▸ pair up PHRASAL VERB If people pair up or are paired up , they form a pair, especially in order to do something together. □ [V P + with ] They asked us to pair up with the person next to us and form teams. □ [V P ] Men and women pair up to dance. □ [be V -ed P ] When they are in a burning building, firefighters are paired up. [Also V n P + with ] COLLOCATIONS pair NOUN
1
adjective + pair : identical, matching
3
adjective + pair : odd, unlikely
pair + be + adjective : inseparable
pair|ing /peə r I ŋ/ (pairings ) N‑COUNT Two people, especially sports players, actors, or musicians, who are working together as a pair can be referred to as a pairing . □ [+ of ] …John Etheridge and Nigel Kennedy, an enticing pairing of ace guitarist and maverick fiddler.
pais|ley /pe I zli/ (paisleys ) N‑VAR Paisley is a special pattern of curving shapes and colours, used especially on fabric. □ He was elegantly dressed in a grey suit, blue shirt and paisley tie.
pa|jam|as /pədʒɑː məz/ → see pyjamas
Pa|ki|stani /pɑː k I stɑː ni/ (Pakistanis )
1 ADJ Pakistani means belonging or relating to Pakistan, or to its people or culture.
2 N‑COUNT [usu pl] A Pakistani is a Pakistani citizen, or a person of Pakistani origin.
pal /pæ l/ (pals ) N‑COUNT [usu with poss] Your pals are your friends. [INFORMAL , OLD-FASHIONED ]
pal|ace ◆◇◇ /pæ l I s/ (palaces )