three-color

[ three-kuhl-er ]

adjective

1. having or characterized by the use of three colors.
2. noting or pertaining to a photomechanical process for making reproductions of paintings, artwork, etc., usually by making three printing plates, each corresponding to a primary color, by the halftone process, and printing superimposed impressions from these plates in three correspondingly colored inks.

Word History and Origins

Origin of three-color¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

This method works best for carving shaded or three-color patterns.

From Seattle Times

The protesters suddenly found their health codes — a three-color system tracking health status — had turned red, prohibiting them from any travel.

From Washington Post

The impression it leaves on my mind is a bold, three-color nightmare: the black of night and trees, the white of snow and teeth, and the red of — well, you’ll see.

From New York Times

Recently, Pittsburgh-based paint company PPG Industries released a three-color palette of a warm beige, a saturated ginger orange and a muted turquoise as predicted trends for next year.

From Seattle Times

The changes seemed bound to add more confusion over the tiered, three-color system of zoned restrictions, a classification that was additionally complicated on Wednesday when the governor unveiled a new “microcluster strategy.”

From New York Times