palette

[pal-it] /ˈpæl ɪt/
noun
1.
a thin and usually oval or oblong board or tablet with a thumb hole at one end, used by painters for holding and mixing colors.
2.
any other flat surface used by a painter for this purpose.
3.
the set of colors on such a board or surface.
4.
the range of colors used by a particular artist.
5.
the variety of techniques or range of any art:
a lush but uneven musical palette.
6.
the complete range of colors made available by a computer graphics card, from which a user or program may choose those to be displayed.
7.
(in ancient Egyptian art) a somewhat flattish slate object of various shapes, carved with commemorative scenes or motifs or, especially in the smaller pieces, containing a recessed area probably for holding eye makeup and often used as a votive offering.
8.
Also, pallette. Armor. a small plate defending the front of the armpit when the arm is lifted; gusset.
Origin
1615-25; < French, Middle French < Italian paletta, diminutive of pala shovel < Latin pāla; see -ette
Related forms
palettelike, adjective
Can be confused
palate, palette, pallet.
Examples from the web for palette
  • Possibly more gear to choose from and more color palette options would be great.
  • The limited color palette and simple composition are lovely.
  • Her broader palette is the evolution of language.
  • I'll tell you a name, and you tell me where on the palette you would put it.
  • Every room in my house is in a beige and brown palette (no colours).
  • There, Modigliani's palette grew brighter and his compositions bolder.
  • Each has a palette of vivid but soothing reds, oranges and blues to illuminate attractive icons on slim toolbars.
  • This is a solid yarn with strong characters and a full palette of local color.
  • Wells differentiates between the two homelands in palette and artistic style.
  • He considered, discarded and pared down ideas for months before he squeezed even a drop of paint onto his palette.
British Dictionary definitions for palette

palette

/ˈpælɪt/
noun
1.
Also pallet. a flat piece of wood, plastic, etc, used by artists as a surface on which to mix their paints
2.
the range of colours characteristic of a particular artist, painting, or school of painting: a restricted palette
3.
the available range of colours or patterns that can be displayed by a computer on a visual display unit
4.
either of the plates of metal attached by a strap to the cuirass in a suit of armour to protect the armpits
palatepallet1
Word Origin
C17: from French, diminutive of pale shovel, from Latin pala spade
Word Origin and History for palette
n.

1620s, "flat thin tablet used by an artist to lay and mix colors," from French palette, from Old French palete "small shovel, blade" (13c.) diminutive of pale "shovel, blade," from Latin pala "spade, shoulder blade," probably from PIE *pak-slo-, from root *pag- (see pact). Transferred sense of "colors used by a particular artist" is from 1882.

palette in Technology


colour palette