passe-partout: Meaning and Definition of

passe-par•tout

Pronunciation: (pas"pär-t' Fr. päs-par-t'), [key]
— pl. -touts
  1. something that passes everywhere or provides a universal means of passage.
  2. a master key; skeleton key.
  3. an ornamental mat for a picture.
  4. a method of framing in which a piece of glass is placed over a picture and is affixed to a backing by means of adhesive strips of paper or other material pasted over the edges.
  5. paper prepared for this purpose.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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