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n. 1. A soft, smooth, thick mixture or material, as: a. A smooth viscous mixture, as of flour and water or of starch and water, that is used as an adhesive for joining light materials, such as paper and cloth. b. The moist clay or clay mixture used in making porcelain or pottery. Also called pâte. c. A smooth dough of water, flour, and butter or other shortening, used in making pastry. d. A food that has been pounded until it is reduced to a smooth creamy mass: anchovy paste. e. A sweet doughy candy or confection: rolled apricot paste. 2. a. A hard, brilliant, lead-containing glass used in making artificial gems. b. A gem made of this glass. Also called strass. v. past·ed, past·ing, pastes v.tr. 1. To cause to adhere by applying paste. 2. To cover with something by using paste: He pasted the wall with burlap. 3. Computers To insert (text, graphics, or other data) into a document or file. v.intr. Computers To insert text, graphics, or other data into a document or file. [Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin pasta, from Greek, barley-porridge, from neuter pl. of pastos, sprinkled, salted, from passein, to sprinkle; see kwēt- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. past·ed, past·ing, pastes 1. To strike forcefully. 2. To defeat soundly. n. A hard blow. [Probably alteration of BASTE3.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
