tempera

T1E1M3P3E1R1A1
/ˈtɛmpəɹə/

noun

A paint in which the pigments are suspended in a water-soluble emulsion, such as of egg yolk or gelatine, which hardens and becomes insoluble on exposure to air.

Similar
poster paintposter colorposter colour
OriginItalian tempera →
Less commonScrabble 11
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Meanings

nountempera (countable and uncountable, plural temperas)

plural temperas

  1. uncountableA paint in which the pigments are suspended in a water-soluble emulsion, such as of egg yolk or gelatine, which hardens and becomes insoluble on exposure to air.
  2. uncountableThe artistic technique of painting in this medium.
  3. countableA painting done in this medium.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounpigment mixed with water-soluble glutinous materials such as size and egg yolk

Similar
poster paintposter colorposter colour
Broader
water-base paint
Also see
poster colorposter paint

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Italiantempera
  2. Italiantempera
  3. Englishtempera

Borrowed from Italian tempera.

More words from Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 蛋彩畫 /蛋彩画
  • 蛋彩畫 /蛋彩画 (dàncǎihuà)painting medium, artistic technique
Finnish tempera, temperamaalaus
  • temperapainting medium, artistic technique
  • temperamaalauspainting medium, artistic technique
French tempera, tempéra
  • temperapainting medium, artistic technique
  • tempérapainting medium, artistic technique
German Tempera
  • Temperapainting medium, artistic technique
Greek τέμπερα
  • τέμπερα (témpera)painting medium, artistic technique
Italian tempera
  • temperapainting medium, artistic technique
Polish tempera
  • temperapainting medium, artistic technique
Portuguese têmpera
  • têmperapainting medium, artistic technique
Romanian tempera
  • temperapainting medium, artistic technique
Russian те́мпера
  • те́мпера (témpera)painting medium, artistic technique
Spanish témpera, temple
  • témperapainting medium, artistic technique
  • templepainting medium, artistic technique

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

TamperetreemapPertamepremate
Cite this entry
APA

tempera. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tempera

MLA

“tempera.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tempera. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “tempera,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/tempera.

Source: tempera on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.