putty

[ puht-ee ]

/ ˈpʌt i /

noun, plural put·ties.

a compound of whiting and linseed oil, of a doughlike consistency when fresh, used to secure windowpanes, patch woodwork defects, etc.

any of various other compounds used for similar purposes.

any of various substances for sealing the joints of tubes or pipes, composed of linseed oil with red lead, white lead, iron oxide, etc.

a creamy mixture of lime and water, partially dried and mixed with sand and plaster of Paris to make a finish plaster coat.

putty powder.

any person or thing easily molded, influenced, etc.: We were putty in his hands.

light brownish- or yellowish-gray.

verb (used with object), put·tied, put·ty·ing.

to secure, cover, etc., with putty.

Idioms for putty

up to putty, Australian Slang. worthless or useless.

Origin of putty

First recorded in 1625–35, putty is from the French word potée, literally, (something) potted. See pot¹, -ee

OTHER WORDS FROM putty

un·put·tied, adjective

Words nearby putty

puttie, puttier, putting green, puttnam, putto, putty, putty in someone's hands, putty knife, putty powder, puttyroot, putumayo

Definition for putty (2 of 2)

putty ²

[ puht-ee ]

/ ˈpʌt i /

noun, plural put·ties.

puttee.

Example sentences from the Web for putty

David wants to win the family over, and everybody, except Anna, is putty in his hands.

Dan Stevens Blows Up ‘Downton’: From Chubby-Cheeked Aristo to Lean, Mean American Psycho |Tim Teeman |September 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When asked whether he was sexy she replies, "Everyone is putty around him… Look at him."

New Set Of Harry Party Photos Hit Tumblr |Tom Sykes |January 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Now he can just charge out there and do more of this, and in no time the nation will be putty in our hands!

Michael Tomasky on the GOP’s Self-Delusion Syndrome |Michael Tomasky |September 27, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
We must ruthlessly accommodate ourselves to a world that has shown, once again, that it is not putty in our hands.

Let's End American Dominance |Peter Beinart |June 5, 2010 |DAILY BEAST

The vertical grooves are now to be filled in with putty and painted over, care being taken to keep the carbon free from paint.

The Electric Bath |George M. Schweig
"My skin is getting soft like putty," she remarked aloud to herself.

Linda Condon |Joseph Hergesheimer
Finishing nails may be used and the heads set and covered with putty stained to match the wood.

Mission Furniture |H. H. Windsor
Aye, if I could; but yet these broken lives, Cracked by my fall, no putty will make whole.

The Scarlet Stigma |James Edgar Smith
The frame was covered with putty, and into the putty she fastened her shells.

Gypsy's Cousin Joy |Elizabeth Stuart Phelps

British Dictionary definitions for putty

putty

/ (ˈpʌtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

a stiff paste made of whiting and linseed oil that is used to fix glass panes into frames and to fill cracks or holes in woodwork, etc

any substance with a similar consistency, function, or appearance

a mixture of lime and water with sand or plaster of Paris used on plaster as a finishing coat

(as modifier) a putty knife

See putty powder

a person who is easily influenced or persuaded he's putty in her hands

a colour varying from a greyish-yellow to a greyish-brown or brownish-grey
(as adjective)putty-coloured

up to putty Australian informal worthless or useless

verb -ties, -tying or -tied

(tr) to fix, fill, or coat with putty

Word Origin for putty

C17: from French potée a potful

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

putty

noun, plural put·ties.

verb (used with object), put·tied, put·ty·ing.

Idioms for putty

Origin of putty

OTHER WORDS FROM putty

Words nearby putty

Definition for putty (2 of 2)

noun, plural put·ties.

Example sentences from the Web for putty

British Dictionary definitions for putty

noun plural -ties

verb -ties, -tying or -tied

Word Origin for putty

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

putty

noun, plural put·ties.

verb (used with object), put·tied, put·ty·ing.

Idioms for putty

Origin of putty

OTHER WORDS FROM putty

Words nearby putty

Definition for putty (2 of 2)

noun, plural put·ties.

Words related to putty

Example sentences from the Web for putty

British Dictionary definitions for putty

noun plural -ties

verb -ties, -tying or -tied

Word Origin for putty