A1 noun Neutral

easel

/ˈiː.zəl/

An easel is a wooden or metal frame that stands on three legs. It is used to hold a canvas or a board while an artist is painting or drawing on it.

Examples

3 of 5
1

I put my new paper on the easel to start my painting.

I put my new paper on the easel to start my painting.

2

The museum uses a large wooden easel to show the sign.

The museum uses a large wooden easel to show the sign.

3

Grab your easel and let's go paint in the garden!

Grab your easel and let's go paint in the garden!

Word Family

Noun
easel
Related
easels
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Memory Tip

Think of the word 'EASY'. It is EASY to paint when you have an EASEL to hold your paper.

Quick Quiz

The artist placed her canvas on the ______ before she started to paint.

Correct!

The correct answer is: easel

Examples

1

I put my new paper on the easel to start my painting.

everyday

I put my new paper on the easel to start my painting.

2

The museum uses a large wooden easel to show the sign.

formal

The museum uses a large wooden easel to show the sign.

3

Grab your easel and let's go paint in the garden!

informal

Grab your easel and let's go paint in the garden!

4

Art students must learn how to set up the wooden easel correctly.

academic

Art students must learn how to set up the wooden easel correctly.

5

We need an easel to hold the big chart during the meeting.

business

We need an easel to hold the big chart during the meeting.

Word Family

Noun
easel
Related
easels

Common Collocations

wooden easel wooden easel
set up an easel set up an easel
display easel display easel
studio easel studio easel
tabletop easel tabletop easel

Common Phrases

on the easel

currently being painted or worked on

folding easel

an easel that can be closed for carrying

field easel

a portable easel for painting outdoors

Often Confused With

easel vs weasel

An easel is a stand for art, while a weasel is a small, thin animal.

easel vs diesel

An easel is used for painting, but diesel is a type of fuel for engines.

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Usage Notes

Use this word when talking about the physical stand that holds art. It is a countable noun, so you can have one easel or two easels.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes spell it as 'easle'. Remember to use 'on the easel' when saying where the painting is placed.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of the word 'EASY'. It is EASY to paint when you have an EASEL to hold your paper.

📖

Word Origin

From the Dutch word 'ezel', which means 'donkey', because the stand carries the painting like a donkey carries a load.

Grammar Patterns

Countable noun Plural: easels Used with prepositions 'on' or 'at'
🌍

Cultural Context

The portable easel allowed famous Impressionist artists to paint outside in nature instead of staying in a dark studio.

Quick Quiz

The artist placed her canvas on the ______ before she started to paint.

Correct!

The correct answer is: easel

More art words

painting

A1

A painting is a picture that someone makes using paint. It is usually created on a surface like paper or canvas and is considered a piece of art.

sculpture

A1

A sculpture is a three-dimensional piece of art made by shaping or carving materials like stone, wood, metal, or clay. Unlike a painting, you can walk around a sculpture and see it from many different angles.

sketch

A1

A simple drawing that is done quickly and without many details. It is often used as a rough draft or a plan for a more finished piece of art.

portrait

A1

A portrait is a painting, drawing, or photograph of a person, usually focusing on the face and shoulders. It is created to show what the person looks like and often to express their personality.

landscape

A1

A landscape is a painting, photograph, or view of a wide area of land. In art, it usually shows natural scenes like mountains, trees, and rivers instead of people.

still life

A1

A still life is a type of art, such as a painting or photograph, that shows objects that do not move. Common subjects include everyday items like fruit, flowers, bottles, or bowls.

cubism

A1

Cubism is a style of modern art that shows objects and people as simple geometric shapes like cubes, triangles, and circles. Instead of looking realistic from one side, the art shows the subject from many different angles at the same time.

surrealism

A1

Surrealism is a style of art and literature that mixes real objects in strange or impossible ways, like in a dream. It aims to show the power of the imagination and the hidden thoughts of the mind.

contemporary art

A1

Contemporary art is art produced at the present period in time. It includes works made by artists living today and reflects the issues of our modern world.

palette

A1

A palette is a flat board or plate that an artist uses to hold and mix their paints. It also describes the specific set of colors used in a painting, design, or brand.

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