English Lexicon

Verdigris

/ˈvɜːr.dɪ.ɡriːs/
nounCEFR C2 (Proficient)Top #14500 frequency
Full Thesaurus

Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A bright bluish-green encrustation or patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces by atmospheric oxidation or exposure to acidic solutions.

    "The ancient bronze statue was covered in a rich layer of verdigris."
  2. 2

    A green or bluish-green pigment traditionally prepared by exposing copper to acetic acid vapours, formerly used widely in painting and dyeing.

    "The Renaissance painter mixed verdigris into the oil medium to achieve the vibrant foliage hue."

Thesaurus & Semantic Spectrum

Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Middle English 'vertegriz', stemming from Old French 'vert-de-grece', meaning 'green of Greece'. This ultimately traces back to the Late Latin 'viridis graecus', referring to the green patina that forms on copper, brass, or bronze.

Quick Vocabulary Retention Check

Which of the following is the closest synonym for "Verdigris"?

Thesaurus & Synonyms Graph

Explore Nuanced Synonyms for "Verdigris"

Discover exact matches, context-specific alternatives, and antonyms with intensity ratings in the VocabDictionary Thesaurus.

View "Verdigris" Synonym Map