tempera

noun

tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə 

1

: a process of painting in which an albuminous or colloidal medium (such as egg yolk) is employed as a vehicle instead of oil

also : a painting done in tempera

2

: poster color

Examples of tempera in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a paintbrush or your finger to cover the egg with tempera paint. —Annabelle Canela, Parents, 16 Apr. 2025

The most monumental pieces, simply called the Ten Largest, were dramatic tempera pigment works on paper more than ten feet tall and had been completed in a frenzied nine-week period in 1907. —Jay Cheshes, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025

In egg tempera and gold leaf on wood, Santiago with an Apostolic Man shows a figure at right-hand staring at the viewer. —John Oseid, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024

Two works of egg tempera on calfskin from New York painter Altoon Sultan-Dark Corner (2021) and Lines and loop (2021), adorn the walls. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian, "tempera, mixture, temperament, constitution" (in modern Italian usually tempra in figurative senses), noun derivative of temperare, temprare "to mix in the proper proportion, moderate," going back to Latin temperāre "to moderate, bring to a proper strength or consistency by mixing" — more at temper entry 2

First Known Use

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tempera

• tempora

Kids Definition

tempera

noun

tem·​pera ˈtem-pə-rə 

: a process of painting in which the colors are mixed with substances (as egg, glue, or gum) other than oil