A suspension of powdered pigment
in a liquid vehicle, used for decorative and
protective surface coatings. In oil-based
paints, the vehicle contains solvents and a
drying oil or synthetic resin. In waterbased
or emulsion paints, the vehicle is
mostly water with an emulsified resin.
Paint is a term used since the dawn of history to designate cosmetics, marking chalks and pastes, tempera plaster, and colored fluids applied to surfaces for artistic, decorative, or weatherproofing purposes. The term survives today as a general marketing designation for decorative and protective formulations used in architectural, commercial, and industrial applications, with such diverse materials as lacquer, varnish, baking finishes, and specialty coating systems covered in a single category. Paint is a general name sometimes used broadly to refer to all types of organic coatings.
