alla prima

noun

al·​la pri·​ma

ˌäləˈprēmə,

ˌal-

: a method of painting in which pigments are laid on in a single application instead of being built up by repeated paintings

Word History

Etymology

Italian, at once

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!