Meaning & use
undercoats
Last updated
“undercoats” is a form of “undercoat”.
Meanings
nouncountableBritish
Layers of paint put on a surface before the final coat to cover it evenly and help the top color stick.
Grammar: Plural for several layers: two undercoats before the topcoat.
Patterns
- apply undercoats
- undercoats of paint
The painter put two undercoats on the door before the gloss.
Let the undercoats dry overnight.
Dark wood needs more undercoats to hide the color.
nouncountable
The soft, thick fur or hair growing beneath the longer outer hair of some animals.
Grammar: Often discussed for pets: the dog's undercoats.
Patterns
- thick undercoats
- shed undercoats
Huskies have dense undercoats that keep them warm.
The groomer brushed out the loose undercoats in spring.
Some breeds shed their undercoats twice a year.
verbtransitivetechnical
Puts a protective layer on the underside of something, especially a vehicle, against rust.
Grammar: Third person singular; takes an object: he undercoats the truck.
Patterns
- undercoat something
He undercoats the truck every autumn to stop rust.
The garage undercoats new cars for extra protection.
She undercoats the metal before adding color.
Word forms
| base form | undercoat |
|---|---|
| past tense | undercoated |
| past participle | undercoated |
| -ing form | undercoating |
Common combinations
- apply two undercoats
- Apply two undercoats before painting.
- dense undercoats
- Malamutes grow dense undercoats.
- shed undercoats
- Dogs shed their undercoats in spring.
- undercoats of paint
- Several undercoats of paint hid the stains.
- rust-proof undercoats
- Rust-proof undercoats protected the chassis.
Synonyms and how they differ
- primer
- Primer is the usual American word for a first coat of paint, while undercoat is more British and sits between primer and topcoat.
- base coat
- Base coat is a broader term for the first layer of paint or nail polish.
- underfur
- Underfur names the soft fur beneath the outer hair, while undercoat can also mean paint.
- topcoat
- Topcoat is the final layer, not a hidden one like an undercoat.
Opposites
Word family
- undercoat noun
- one such layer
- undercoating noun
- a protective layer, especially on vehicles
- undercoated adjective
- having a layer applied
- coat noun
- a covering layer of paint or fur
Commonly confused: undercoats or overcoats?
undercoats vs overcoats
Overcoats are long warm coats worn over clothes, not layers of paint or fur.
Practice
The decorator applied two ___ to the bare wood before the final gloss coat.
Choose one answer.
Undercoats are the first layers beneath the final color. Topcoats go on last, and overcoats and raincoats are clothes.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “undercoats”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.