tempera

noun

tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə How to pronounce tempera (audio)
1
: a process of painting in which an albuminous or colloidal medium (such as egg yolk) is employed as a vehicle instead of oil
also : a painting done in tempera
2

Examples of tempera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The most monumental pieces, simply called the Ten Largest, were dramatic tempera pigment works on paper more than ten feet tall and had been completed in a frenzied nine-week period in 1907. Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 In egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, Santiago with an Apostolic Man shows a figure at right-hand staring at the viewer. John Oseid, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 Two works of egg tempera on calfskin from New York painter Altoon Sultan-Dark Corner (2021) and Lines and loop (2021), adorn the walls. Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019 The three were a match: they were all made using egg tempera and oil paint, along with two coats of gesso used as a base. Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for tempera

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "tempera, mixture, temperament, constitution" (in modern Italian usually tempra in figurative senses), noun derivative of temperare, temprare "to mix in the proper proportion, moderate," going back to Latin temperāre "to moderate, bring to a proper strength or consistency by mixing" — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tempera was in 1832

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tempera.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tempera. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

tempera

noun
tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə How to pronounce tempera (audio)
: a process of painting in which the colors are mixed with substances (as egg, glue, or gum) other than oil

More from Merriam-Webster on tempera

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!