palette: Meaning and Definition of

pal•ette

Pronunciation: (pal'it), [key]
— n.
  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, esp. in the smaller pieces, containing a recessed area probably for holding eye makeup and often used as a votive offering.
  8. a small plate defending the front of the armpit when the arm is lifted; gusset.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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