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

Writing on a computer and MIDI just doesn’t translate the same way, like oil versus tempera versus digital painting. —Chris Willman, Variety, 6 Mar. 2024

Oils, temperas and charcoals will mingle to create a distinctive depiction of Southern Chile. —Holly Jones, Variety, 30 Oct. 2023

The scenery is similar in both kinds of paintings, but where the oils have an Olympian detachment, the tempera ones pull the eye across the vastness and into curves of land and curls of clouds. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023

The artist works most frequently with diluted oil paints but sometimes shifts to fast-drying egg tempera. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 29 Sep. 2023

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

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