watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lər 

ˈwä-

1

: a paint of which the liquid is a water dispersion of the binding material (such as glue, casein, or gum)

2

: the art or method of painting with watercolors

3

: a picture or design executed in watercolors

watercolor adjective

watercolorist

ˈwȯ-tər-ˌkə-lə-rist 

ˈwä-

noun

Examples of watercolor in a Sentence

a landscape done in watercolor

He only works in watercolors.

We bought a watercolor of the shore.

Recent Examples on the Web

Attend an artist talk or sign up for a hands-on class, such as watercolor painting or figure drawing. —AFAR Media, 19 Dec. 2024

Helena’s are traditional, neat watercolor landscapes. —Eliana Dockterman, TIME, 18 Dec. 2024

Tim Hahne, a watercolor artist and ceramicist, had exhibited at the festivals between 1979 and 1996. —Daniella Walsh, Orange County Register, 7 Dec. 2024

For Valentine’s Day, 6-year-old Ellie Berg painted watercolor cards for all 23 of her classmates, and on the back of each, she hand wrote an individual note. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 27 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

watercolor

noun

wa·​ter·​col·​or ˈwȯt-ər-ˌkəl-ər 

ˈwät-

1

: a paint whose liquid part is water

2

: a picture painted with watercolor

3

: the art of painting with watercolor

watercolorist

-ˌkəl-ə-rəst 

noun