painter

noun

PAYN-tur/ˈpeɪntɚ/UKPAYN-tuh/ˈpeɪntə/

5 meanings of painter

1
nouncountable
An artist who makes pictures using paint and a brush.
The painter mixed bright colors for her new picture.
My aunt is a painter who sells her pictures at the market.
Similarartist
Note
2
nouncountable
A worker whose job is to paint walls, houses, or other surfaces.
We hired a painter to make the kitchen walls white again.
A painter climbed the tall ladder to reach the top of the barn.
Similardecorator
3
nouncountable
A rope fixed to the front of a small boat, used for tying it up or pulling it.
Like a dog's leash, but for a small boat.
Tie the painter to the dock so the boat does not float away.
He held the painter while his sister climbed into the rowboat.
Similarline, tether
Note
4
noundialectalSouthern UScountable
A large wild cat, also called a mountain lion or cougar.
People up in the mountains say a painter took one of their sheep last night.
We found painter tracks in the snow near the creek.
Similarcougar, puma, panther, catamount
Note

Less common meaning

5
nounobsolete
A chain or rope used to hold a ship's anchor against the ship's side when not in use.
Like a strap that holds a spare tire in place on a truck.
The sailors tied the painter tight so the anchor would not bang against the ship.
A loose painter let the anchor swing and scrape the wooden side.
Note

Practice

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Origins

Meanings 1–2

From Middle English paynter, from paint plus -er.

Meanings 3, 5

Probably from Middle French pendeur.

Meaning 4

From a variant of the word panther.