WordGarden.iopaste
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /pˈeɪst/
US
- /ˈpeɪst/
Meanings
Verb
to insert copied text, images, or other data from the clipboard
to stick something with paste or a similar adhesive
(informal)to hit hard or beat badly
Noun
a thick sticky substance used to attach things together
a thick smooth mixture used as a food ingredient or spread
Beyond the definition
Think of making a poster. You use a sticky mixture to attach paper to a wall or board. But "paste" is not only about crafts. It is also a common computer action: you copy text or an image, then paste it into a new place. You also meet it in daily life in things like toothpaste or tomato paste, where it means a thick, smooth substance.
If your little brother gets art paste all over his face, that is one kind of paste. If you paste a link into an email, that is another. You might also hear it in sports talk: if a team loses by a huge margin, someone might say they "got pasted," meaning they were badly beaten.
The word "paste" is surprisingly versatile, built around the idea of a thick, sticky, or smooth mixture. One common meaning is an adhesive used for joining materials. Think of wallpaper paste or school paste used in crafts. It is spread onto a surface so that paper, cloth, or other light materials will stick. "She carefully applied the paste to the back of the wallpaper."
In the digital age, "paste" has taken on a whole new life as a basic computer command. To "paste" means to take text, an image, or other content that has been copied or cut and insert it into a new place. "He pasted the article directly into his report." This digital use mirrors the physical act of placing something onto a page.
Beyond adhesives and computers, "paste" also describes a physical consistency. It can mean any smooth, thick substance, such as toothpaste, tomato paste, almond paste, or curry paste. "She spread a generous layer of fruit paste on her toast."
Finally, the word has a few specialized meanings. In jewelry, "paste" can refer to a hard, shiny glass used to imitate real gemstones. In informal speech, the verb "to paste" can mean to hit someone hard or to defeat an opponent very clearly in a game or contest. "The home team got pasted in the final minutes of the game." Whether you are crafting, computing, cooking, or talking about a one-sided game, the word "paste" has several useful meanings.
Examples
- 1
Labels
Spread a little paste on the back of the label before you stick it to the box.
- 2
Cooking mixture
Mix the flour and water until they form a smooth paste.
- 3
Tomato sauce
Add two spoonfuls of tomato paste to the sauce and cook it for a few minutes.
- 4
Public notice
Someone had pasted a notice onto the front door.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Digital messages
Paste the link into the message, and I'll open it from there.
- Patternpaste X into Y
put copied text or data in a place
- 6
Schoolwork
Don't just copy and paste the answer; write it in your own words.
- 7
Covering surfaces
The new poster was pasted over an old advertisement.
- Patternpaste X over Y
attach it so it covers what was there before
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- pastenounverb
Forms
- pastedpast tenseverbnoun
- pasting-ing formverbnoun
- pastespluralnounverb