hue

¹

[ hyooor, often, yoo ]

noun

1. a gradation or variety of a color; tint:

   pale hues.

2. the property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green, or yellow in reference to the spectrum.
3. color:

   all the hues of the rainbow.

4. form or appearance.
5. complexion.

hue

²

[ hyoo ]

noun

1. outcry, as of pursuers; clamor.

Hué

³

[ hwey ]

noun

1. a seaport in central Vietnam: former capital of Annam.

Hué

¹

/ ɥe /

noun

1. a port in central Vietnam, on the delta of the Hué River near the South China Sea: former capital of the kingdom of Annam, of French Indochina (1883–1946), and of Central Vietnam (1946–54). Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)

hue

²

/ hjuː /

noun

1. the attribute of colour that enables an observer to classify it as red, green, blue, purple, etc, and excludes white, black, and shades of grey See also colour
2. a shade of a colour
3. aspect; complexion

   a different hue on matters

hue

/ hyo̅o̅ /

1. The property of colors by which they are seen as ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, as determined by the dominant wavelength of the light.
2. Compare saturation

Other Words From

• hueless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hewe, Old English hīw “appearance, color, form”; cognate with Old Norse hȳ “bird's down,” Swedish hy “complexion, skin,” Gothic hiwi “appearance, form”; akin to Old English hār “gray” ( hoar )

Origin of hue²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English hu(e), from Middle French: “a hoot, outcry” (whence huer “to hoot, cry out”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

Old English hīw beauty; related to Old Norse hӯ fine hair, Gothic hiwi form

Example Sentences

Images and videos of the marine mollusks flashing bright purple and yellow hues litter the internet, perpetuating the idea that these animals are constantly putting on a show in the wild.

From Science News

The hue indicates that it burns without soot, suggesting that such flames could be useful in cleaning up oil spills or for more environmentally friendly power generation.

From Science News

Scientists have resurrected a purple-blue hue that had been lost to time.

From Science News For Students

They’ve also mapped out the molecule that produces its blue hue.

From Science News For Students

Because each hue has a slightly different wavelength, each refracts a different amount.

From Science News For Students

Her pin-up curls may have been envy-worthy, but it was the bleach blond, almost snow white, hue of her hair that become iconic.

From The Daily Beast

This was a madcap game, the ball hurtling from end to end, chased by tired legs of every hue.

From The Daily Beast

I have found a pale greenish hue to be very soothing personally.

From The Daily Beast

The dress is a classic, with its soft, lavender hue, chiffon fabric, and minimalist shape.

From The Daily Beast

Does Blackness, as a social color, change the hue of all the other colors it touches?

From The Daily Beast

Her face was mild and pale; but it was the transparent hue of the virgin flower of spring, clad in her veiling leaves.

From Project Gutenberg

The wind-blown rain-makers lost their leaden hue and became a soft pearl-gray, all fleecy white around the edges.

From Project Gutenberg

The question is, do these words of Hue de Rotelande throw any light upon this disputed point?

From Project Gutenberg

She watched the colour fade from his cheeks, and the ugly, livid hue that spread in its room to his very lips.

From Project Gutenberg

Their colour is generally of a cinereous hue, but a few were noticed that were variegated black and white.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• complexion
• tinge
• tint
• tone