pink

¹

[ pingk ]

noun

1. a color varying from light crimson to pale reddish purple.
2. any of several plants of the genus Dianthus, as the clove pink or carnation. Compare pink family.
3. the flower of such a plant; carnation.
4. the highest or best form, degree, or example of something: Her parties are the pink of perfection.

   Those runners are in the pink of condition.

   Her parties are the pink of perfection.

5. Older Slang: Disparaging. pinko none.
6. Business Informal. a carbon copy, as of a sales slip or invoice, made on pink tissue paper.
7. pinks,
   1. Fox Hunting. pink coat.
   2. pinkish-tan gabardine trousers formerly worn by military officers as part of the dress uniform.
8. the scarlet color of hunting pinks.

adjective

, pink·er, pink·est.

1. of the color pink:

   pink marble.

2. Older Slang: Disparaging.
   1. holding mildly leftist political opinions.
   2. leaning toward communist ideology.
3. Informal. of or relating to gay people or gay sexual orientation.

pink

²

[ pingk ]

verb (used with object)

1. to pierce with a rapier or the like; stab.
2. to finish (fabric) at the edge with a scalloped, notched, or other pattern, as to prevent fraying or for ornament.
3. to punch (cloth, leather, etc.) with small holes or figures for ornament.
4. Chiefly British Dialect. to adorn or ornament, especially with scalloped edges or a punched-out pattern.

pink

³

[ pingk ]

noun

1. a vessel with a pink stern.

pink

¹

/ pɪŋk /

verb

1. to prick lightly with a sword or rapier
2. to decorate (leather, cloth, etc) with a perforated or punched pattern
3. to cut with pinking shears

pink

²

/ pɪŋk /

noun

1. any of a group of colours with a reddish hue that are of low to moderate saturation and can usually reflect or transmit a large amount of light; a pale reddish tint
2. pink cloth or clothing

   dressed in pink

3. any of various Old World plants of the caryophyllaceous genus Dianthus, such as D. plumarius ( garden pink ), cultivated for their fragrant flowers See also carnation
4. any of various plants of other genera, such as the moss pink
5. the flower of any of these plants
6. the highest or best degree, condition, etc (esp in the phrases in the pink of health, in the pink )
7. 1. a huntsman's scarlet coat
   2. a huntsman who wears a scarlet coat

adjective

1. of the colour pink
2. informal.
   left-wing
3. derogatory.
   1. sympathetic to or influenced by Communism
   2. leftist or radical, esp half-heartedly
4. informal.
   of or relating to homosexuals or homosexuality

   the pink vote

5. (of a huntsman's coat) scarlet or red

verb

1. intr another word for knock

pink

³

/ pɪŋk /

noun

1. a sailing vessel with a narrow overhanging transom

Derived Forms

• ˈpinkish, adjective
• ˈpinky, adjective
• ˈpinkness, noun

Other Words From

• pink·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pink¹

First recorded in 1565–75; origin uncertain

Origin of pink²

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English pinge(n), pinken, pung(en) “to push (a door), batter, shove; prick, stab, pierce; punch holes in,” Old English pyngan “to prick,” possibly from Latin pungere “to prick, pierce”; point ( def ), puncheon ²

Origin of pink³

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pynck(e), from Middle Dutch pinke “fishing boat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of pink¹

C14: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Low German pinken to peck

Origin of pink²

C16 (the flower), C18 (the colour): perhaps a shortening of pinkeye

Origin of pink³

C15: from Middle Dutch pinke, of obscure origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in the pink, healthy, physically fit, or in high spirits:

   I’m feeling very much in the pink today, after a refreshing walk in the countryside.

2. tickled pink. tickle ( def 11 ).

More idioms and phrases containing pink

see in the pink ; tickled pink .

Example Sentences

A translucent plastic chair hangs from the ceiling, which is also pink and feathered.

From Vox

Ari, the girls, and I are sitting at a wooden table that’s been hand-painted neon pink, in chairs wrapped in bubblegum marabou feathers.

From Vox

Ideal for kids between 2-5, and available in a broad range of colors for all personalities, from lime green to bright pink to camo.

From Popular-Science

More than 6,000 pink-nosed merino sheep roam the 2,500 rolling acres that constitute Glenaan Station, a century-old farm two hours north of Christchurch.

From Fortune

Here, everything is pink, everyone is happy, and, as it turns out, pretty much everything is fake.

From Eater

Twin girls, Greta and Grace, run around the floor in circles, wearing pink playsuits with tiny pink wings attached.

From The Daily Beast

She is smiling, a pink-striped hat on her head and a mini rainbow lollipop sticking out of her mouth.

From The Daily Beast

A guy wearing pink appeared to be spotting her, but I was worried that he could have gotten impaled by those Stiletto heels.

From The Daily Beast

On social media, Madusa refers to her fans as pink warriors.

From The Daily Beast

Uber pridefully wears its evil reputation the way other on-demand ride-sharing services wear fuzzy pink mustaches.

From The Daily Beast

The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow color are the smallest.

From Project Gutenberg

That poor, pretty creature, starving, in her charming pink dress and hat of roses.

From Project Gutenberg

In fact, on the palm a small drop of blood showed distinctly against the firm, pink flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

"I am sorry," she replied instead, not saying a word about the poor little toes which the pretty pink lady had crushed.

From Project Gutenberg

Her eyes were not nearly as soft as they had been, while she picked up the hanging folds of pink cloth, and went on.

From Project Gutenberg