Meaning & use
easel
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Meanings
nouncountable
A stand with legs that holds a painting, canvas or board upright while someone works on it or shows it.
Grammar: Takes a plural: two easels. Often on an easel.
Patterns
- paint at an easel
- on an easel
She set up her easel by the window to catch the light.
The class placed canvases on their easels and began to sketch.
nouncountable
A stand used to display a sign, chart or photograph at an event or presentation.
Grammar: Often described by what it holds: a poster easel.
Patterns
- display something on an easel
A photo of the bride stood on an easel at the entrance.
The trainer wrote ideas on a flip chart easel.
Word forms
| plural | easels |
|---|
Common combinations
- set up an easel
- He set up an easel on the beach.
- artist's easel
- An artist's easel stood in the corner.
- easel and canvas
- She bought an easel and canvas for painting.
- tabletop easel
- A tabletop easel suits a small desk.
Synonyms and how they differ
Commonly confused: easel or easy?
easel vs easy
Easy has a similar sound at the start but means not difficult; an easel is a physical stand.
Practice
The painter rested the unfinished portrait on an ____ near the window.
Choose one answer.
An easel holds a canvas upright for painting. A pedestal supports a statue or vase, and ladders and anvils do not hold canvases.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “easel”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.