First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1color
noun, col·or often attributive \ˈkə-lər\
: a quality such as red, blue, green, yellow, etc., that you see when you look at something
: something used to give color to something : a pigment or dye
: the use or combination of colors
Full Definition of COLOR
1
a : a phenomenon of light (as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects b (1) : the aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources <the changing color of the sky>; also : a specific combination of hue, saturation, and lightness or brightness <comes in six colors> (2) : a color other than and as contrasted with black, white, or gray
2
a : an outward often deceptive show : appearance <his story has the color of truth> b : a legal claim to or appearance of a right, authority, or office c : a pretense offered as justification : pretext <she could have drawn from the Versailles treaty the color of legality for any action she chose — Yale Review> d : an appearance of authenticity : plausibility <lending color to this notion>
3
4
a : vividness or variety of effects of language b : local color
5
a : an identifying badge, pennant, or flag —usually used in plural <a ship sailing under Swedish colors> b : colored clothing distinguishing one as a member of a particular group or representative of a particular person or thing —usually used in plural <a jockey wearing the colors of the stable>
6
7
a : the use or combination of colors b : two or more hues employed in a medium of presentation <movies in color>
8
10
: something used to give color : pigment
11
: the quality of timbre in music <the color and richness of the cello>
12
: skin pigmentation especially other than white characteristic of race <a person of color>
13
: a small particle of gold in a gold miner's pan after washing
14
: analysis of game action or strategy, statistics and background information on participants, and often anecdotes provided by a sportscaster to give variety and interest to the broadcast of a game or contest <a color commentator>
15
: a hypothetical property of quarks that differentiates each type into three forms having a distinct role in binding quarks together
See color defined for English-language learners
See color defined for kids
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Origin of COLOR
Middle English colour, from Anglo-French, from Latin color; akin to Latin celare to conceal — more at hell
2color
verb
: to give color to (something) : to change the color of (something)
: to draw with crayons, markers, colored pencils, etc. : to fill in a shape or picture using markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
: to change (someone's ideas, opinion, attitude, etc.) in some way
Full Definition of COLOR
transitive verb
1
a : to give color to b : to change the color of (as by dyeing, staining, or painting)
2
: to change as if by dyeing or painting: as a : misrepresent, distort b : gloss, excuse <color a lie> c : influence <the lives of most of us have been colored by politics — Christine Weston>
3
: characterize, label <call it progress; color it inevitable with shades of job security — C. E. Price>
intransitive verb
: to take on color; specifically : blush
— col·or·er \ˈkə-lər-ər\ noun
See color defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of COLOR
14th century
Related to COLOR
COLOR Defined for Kids
1color
noun col·or \ˈkə-lər\
Definition of COLOR for Kids
1
: the appearance of a thing apart from size and shape when light strikes it <Red is the color of blood.>
2
: skin tone as a mark of race <You cannot discriminate on the basis of color.>
3
: the rosy tint of a light-skinned person's face <They still looked thin and tired, but color had returned to their cheeks. — Mary Pope Osborne, Christmas in Camelot>
4
: 2blush 1 <Her embarrassment showed in the color rising in her face.>
5
colors plural : an identifying flag
6
: 1interest 2 <Details added color to his story.>
2color
verb
col·oredcol·or·ing
Definition of COLOR for Kids
1
: to give color to
2
: to change the color of <She colored her hair.>
3
: to fill in the outlines of a shape or picture with color
4
: to take on or change color : blush <He colored in anger.>
5
: 2influence <I won't let these rumors color my opinion.>
Medical Dictionary
color
noun col·or
Medical Definition of COLOR
1
a : a phenomenon of light (as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects b : the aspect of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources c : a hue as contrasted with black, white, or gray
2
: complexion tint; especially : the tint characteristic of good health
—color or chiefly British colour adjective
Variants of COLOR
col·or or chiefly British col·our \ˈkəl-ər\
Learn More About COLOR
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