ochre

[ oh-ker ]

noun

, o·chred, o·chring.

1. ocher.

ochre

/ ˈəʊkərɪ; ˈəʊkrɪəs; ˈəʊkrəs; ˈəʊkrɔɪd; ˈəʊkə; ˈəʊkərəs; ˈəʊkrɪ /

noun

1. any of various natural earths containing ferric oxide, silica, and alumina: used as yellow or red pigments
2. 1. a moderate yellow-orange to orange colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      an ochre dress

verb

1. tr to colour with ochre

Derived Forms

• ochreous, adjective
• ochroid, adjective

Other Words From

• o·chre·ous [oh, -ker-, uh, s, oh, -kree-, uh, s], o·chrous [oh, -kr, uh, s], o·chry [oh, -kree], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ochre¹

C15: from Old French ocre, from Latin ōchra, from Greek ōkhra, from ōkhros pale yellow

Example Sentences

While sunflower stars have not recovered, adult ochre sea stars on rocky shores are growing in size and number to what was measured before the disease epidemic.

From Science Daily

Mike Love is sitting in a blah-looking room in a Sheraton hotel in North Carolina, the garish pattern of his signature Hawaiian shirt popping against the ochre wallpaper behind him.

From Los Angeles Times

In the resulting enigmatic dreamscapes, muted purples, cornflower blues and soft ochres bloom and spatter and fleck in surprising, delicate ways.

From Seattle Times

The researchers discovered traces of a mixture of ochre and bitumen on several stone tools, such as scrapers, flakes, and blades.

From Science Daily

Red ochre, an iron oxide, dates to prehistoric times and drawings on cave walls.

From Seattle Times