graffiti
Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorizationDrawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
» Within 30 seconds they had graffitied a message on the gallery wall and glued themselves to the heavy gilt frames encasing two masterpieces.
Meaning
2 senses(uncountable, usually)Drawings or words drawn on a surface in a public place, usually made without authorization.
The underpass is a popular place for graffiti artists.
The city council spends thousands of pounds removing graffiti from public buildings.
Graffito, Graffiti
граффи́тиgraffíti
графі́тіhrafíti
(countable, usually)Informal inscriptions, figure drawings, etc., as opposed to official inscriptions.
- a rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls
Examples
1 sentencesWithin 30 seconds they had graffitied a message on the gallery wall and glued themselves to the heavy gilt frames encasing two masterpieces.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Borrowed from Italian graffiti, from graffito, from graffire, borrowed from Ancient GreekBorrowed from Italian graffiti, from graffito, from graffire, borrowed from Ancient Greek γρᾰ́φω (grắphō, “to write”), from Proto-Hellenic *grə́pʰō, from Proto-Indo-European *gerbʰ-.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: graffitiSynonyms
3 synonyms- a rude decoration inscribed on rocks or walls:graffito
Word family
18 related wordsLessons for this word
2 lessons- A1Plural nouns — Because its plural is irregular
- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable