palette

/'pælit/

Friendly

The word "palette" can have a few different meanings, but let’s start with the most common ones.

Basic Definition:

1. Palette as a Board for Mixing Paints: This is a flat surface that artists use to mix their paints. It often looks like a piece of wood or plastic with a thumb hole so the artist can hold it easily. For example, an artist might put blue and yellow paint on their palette and mix them to create green.

2. Palette as a Range of Colors: This refers to the different colors that an artist uses in their work. Each artist might have their own special set of colors that they like to use, which is also called their "palette."

Advanced Usage:

In art discussions, you might hear phrases like "limited palette," which means the artist uses only a few colors to create a specific effect.

Variants:

• Paletted (adjective): This describes something that has a variety of colors or patterns, often used in contexts like design or fashion.

Different Meanings:

• Historical Meaning: In medieval times, "palette" also referred to a piece of armor that protected the armpits, but this usage is very rare today.

Synonyms:

• For the mixing surface: Color tray, mixing board.
• For the range of colors: Color scheme, color range, color selection.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that use "palette," you might hear phrases in art contexts like "expand your palette," which means to explore and use new colors or styles in your art.

Summary:

So, "palette" can refer to: 1. A flat surface for mixing paints. 2. The range of colors an artist uses.

Academic

Noun

1. one of the rounded armor plates at the armpits of a suit of armor
2. board that provides a flat surface on which artists mix paints and the range of colors used
3. the range of colour characteristic of a particular artist or painting or school of art

Synonyms

• pallette
• pallet