Patina
Definition of patina
1a: a usually green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color
b: a surface appearance of something grown beautiful, especially with age or use
the beautiful patina of this antique table
2: an appearance or aura that is derived from association, habit, or established character
the criminal has acquired a patina of respectability through his friendship with well-known businessmen
3: a superficial covering or exterior
The toast was spread with a patina of butter.
Synonyms
air, ambience (or ambiance), aroma, atmosphere, aura, climate, flavor, halo, karma, mood, nimbus, note, odor, smell, temper, vibration(s)
Did you know?
When Italians began using patina in the 17th century to refer to the green film that forms on the surface of copper, they were drawing on Latin, in which patina means “a shallow dish.” (Presumably, the Italian meaning developed from the observation of such film forming on copper dishes.) By the mid-18th century, English speakers were also calling the green film patina, and by the 20th century, they’d expanded the word’s application to surface appearances of things that have grown more beautiful with age or use—think of an old wooden desk or a tarnished silver goblet. Use of the word to refer to thin layers both literal and figurative (“a patina of grime,” “a patina of respectability”) followed soon after.
Examples of patina in a Sentence
although the winery is brand-new, it has been constructed and decorated to give it a patina of old-world quaintness
History and Etymology for patina
Italian, from Latin, shallow dish — more at PATEN
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