yellow

[ yel-oh ]

noun

1. a color like that of egg yolk, ripe lemons, etc.; the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 570 and 590 nanometers.
2. the yolk of an egg.
3. a yellow pigment or dye.
4. Informal. yellow light.
5. Slang. yellow jacket ( def 2 ).

adjective

, yel·low·er, yel·low·est.

1. of the color yellow.
2. Disparaging and Offensive.
   1. designating or pertaining to an Asian person or Asian peoples.
   2. designating or pertaining to a person of mixed racial origin, especially of black and white heritage.
3. having a sallow or yellowish complexion.
4. Informal. cowardly.

   Synonyms: fearful, timorous, craven

5. 1. (of a newspaper, book, etc.) featuring articles, pictures, or other content that is sensational, especially morbidly or offensively so:

      yellow rags;

      yellow biographies.

   2. dishonest in editorial comment and the presentation of news, especially in sacrificing truth for sensationalism, as in yellow journalism yellow press
6. jealous; envious.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to make or become yellow:

   Yellow the sheets with dye.

   The white stationery had yellowed with age.

yellow

/ ˈjɛləʊ /

noun

1. any of a group of colours that vary in saturation but have the same hue. They lie in the approximate wavelength range 585–575 nanometres. Yellow is the complementary colour of blue and with cyan and magenta forms a set of primary colours xanthous
2. a pigment or dye of or producing these colours
3. yellow cloth or clothing

   dressed in yellow

4. the yolk of an egg
5. a yellow ball in snooker, etc
6. any of a group of pieridine butterflies the males of which have yellow or yellowish wings, esp the clouded yellows ( Colias spp.) and the brimstone

adjective

1. of the colour yellow
2. yellowish in colour or having parts or marks that are yellowish

   yellow jasmine

3. having a yellowish skin; Mongoloid
4. informal.
   cowardly or afraid
5. offensively sensational, as a cheap newspaper (esp in the phrase yellow press )

verb

1. to make or become yellow

Sensitive Note

It is perceived as insulting to use yellow to describe a person of Asian or mixed racial origin, as in the terms yellow peril and high yellow.

Derived Forms

• ˈyellowly, adverb
• ˈyellowness, noun
• ˈyellowish, adjective
• ˈyellowy, adjective

Other Words From

• yellow·ly adverb
• yellow·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow¹

First recorded before 900; 1895–1900 yellow fordef 9; Middle English yelou (adjective and noun), Old English geolo, geolu (adjective); cognate with Dutch geel, German gelb, Old Norse gulr; akin to Latin helvus “pale yellow,” Persian zar “gold” ( jargon ²( def ) ), Sanskrit hári “brown, green, yellow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow¹

Old English geolu; related to Old Saxon, Old High German gelo, Old Norse gulr, Latin helvus

Example Sentences

Looking back, she laughs as she recalls explaining to her elementary school teacher that “watermelons were not just red, but yellow too.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Met Office has issued six yellow warnings for snow and ice across the UK, with the warning for Wales in place until 10:00 GMT on Wednesday.

From BBC

Models purposefully walked down the runway in flowing suits of crushed velvet and satin, matching leather mini-shorts and jackets, sequined hot pants and tank top sets in yellow smiley graphics and graffiti print.

From Los Angeles Times

Police said the plotters had nicknamed the operation "green and yellow dagger", in reference to the colours of the Brazilian flag.

From BBC

"We’re thrilled they will journey down the yellow brick road, to the auction block and to a new home."

From BBC