Meaning & use
paint coat
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A single layer of paint put on a surface.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a paint coat' or 'three paint coats'. Often used with 'apply' or 'put on'.
Patterns
- apply a paint coat
- put on a paint coat
- a second paint coat
Apply a thin paint coat and let it dry.
The wall needs a second paint coat to look even.
After the first paint coat, sand the surface lightly.
Word forms
| plural | paint coats |
|---|
Common combinations
- apply a paint coat
- Use a roller to apply a paint coat evenly.
- a second paint coat
- Wait four hours before adding a second paint coat.
- a thin paint coat
- A thin paint coat dries faster than a thick one.
- a final paint coat
- The final paint coat gave the door a smooth finish.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: paint coat or paintcoat?
paint coat vs paintcoat
This is sometimes written as one word in American English, but 'paint coat' (two words) is the usual form.
Practice
Which word best completes the sentence? 'You should apply a second ______ of paint after the first dries.'
Choose one answer.
The phrase is 'a coat of paint', meaning a layer. 'Cloth' and 'clothes' are not used in this pattern, and 'coating' is not used with 'of paint' in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “paint coat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.