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óleo

oil paint; oil painting

noun OH-leh-oh Rare

Origin: From Latin oleum (oil), from Greek elaion (olive oil).

Also means

holy oil (sacrament)

Usage Note

Óleo has two main senses: in art, it means oil paint or an oil painting (un óleo sobre lienzo = an oil on canvas); in religion, it refers to the consecrated oil used in sacraments, especially los santos óleos (last rites / anointing of the sick). The two senses are clearly distinct by context. The technique pintura al óleo is one of the foundational techniques of European fine art.

Examples

"El artista pintó un óleo de gran formato."

Natural Translation

The artist painted a large-format oil painting.

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