I. ˈpānzˌtāk.iŋ, -nˌstā- noun
Etymology: pains, plural of pain (I) + taking, gerund of take
: the action of taking pains : diligent care and effort
greater painstaking to achieve incidental verisimilitude and accuracy of detail — Times Literary Supplement
II. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: pains + taking, present participle of take
: taking pains or marked by the taking of pains : expending or showing diligent care and effort
a most painstaking worker
the results of scholarly, painstaking investigation of historical sources — A.R.Newsome
will go on painting, with scrupulous, painstaking accuracy — D.I.Holman
• pains·tak·ing·ly adverb
• pains·tak·ing·ness noun -es