The noun painting has 4 senses (first 4 from tagged texts)
1. (14) painting, picture -- (graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface; "a small painting by Picasso"; "he bought the painting as an investment"; "his pictures hang in the Louvre")
2. (9) painting -- (creating a picture with paints; "he studied painting and sculpture for many years")
3. (4) painting -- (the act of applying paint to a surface; "you can finish the job of painting faster with a roller than with a brush")
4. (1) painting, house painting -- (the occupation of a house painter; "house painting was the only craft he knew")
Overview of verb paint
The verb paint has 4 senses (first 3 from tagged texts)
1. (17) paint -- (make a painting; "he painted all day in the garden"; "He painted a painting of the garden")
2. (13) paint -- (apply paint to; coat with paint; "We painted the rooms yellow")
3. (11) paint -- (make a painting of; "He painted his mistress many times")
4. paint -- (apply a liquid to; e.g., paint the gutters with linseed oil)