pat·i·na / pəˈtēnə/ • n. a green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period. ∎  a gloss or sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing. ∎  an acquired change in the appearance of a surface: plankton added a golden patina to the shallow, slowly moving water. ∎ fig. an impression or appearance of something: he carries the patina of old money and good breeding. DERIVATIVES: pat·i·nat·ed / ˈpatnˌātid/ adj. pat·i·na·tion / ˌpatnˈāshən/ n.

patina (păt´ənə), coating of carbonate of copper on articles of copper or bronze, formed after long exposure to a moist atmosphere or burial in the earth. Although commonly green, patina varies in color and consistency; it may be red, brown, black, blue, or gray, or it may be smooth, glossy, or crusty. It may be imitated by a number of oxidation processes. The term has been extended to include the film formed on metals, pottery, marble, and other materials by exposure and to the mellow surface acquired by furniture with time and waxing.

patina film produced by alteration of the surface of bronze, marble, etc. XVIII. — It. — L. patina dish; see PATEN.

patina •beginner, Berliner, Corinna, dinner, grinner, inner, Jinnah, sinner, skinner, spinner, thinner, winner •echidna •Krishna, Mishnah, Ramakrishna •vintner • prisoner • Pilsner •Kitchener • Modena • bargainer •imaginer •Elinor, Helena •milliner •examiner, stamina •epiphenomena, phenomena, prolegomena •alumina, noumena, numina •determiner •mariner, submariner •foreigner • larcener • Porsena •patina • retina • Pristina •Herzegovina • breadwinner •prizewinner •angina, assigner, china, consignor, decliner, definer, Dinah, diner, diviner, forty-niner, hardliner, incliner, Indo-China, liner, maligner, Medina, miner, minor, mynah, recliner, refiner, Regina, Salina, Shekinah, shiner, signer, South Carolina, Steiner, twiner, vagina, whiner •headliner • jetliner • airliner •mainliner • eyeliner • moonshiner •Landsteiner • Niersteiner •Liechtensteiner