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color
1[ kuhl-er ]
noun
- the quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light; saturation or chroma; hue.
- the natural appearance of the skin, especially of the face; complexion:
She has a lovely color.
- a ruddy complexion:
The wind and sun had given color to the sailor's face.
- a blush:
His remarks brought the color to her face.
- vivid or distinctive quality, as of a literary work:
Melville's description of a whaling voyage is full of color.
- details in description, customs, speech, habits, etc., of a place or period:
The novel takes place in New Orleans and contains much local color.
- background information, as anecdotes about players or competitors or analyses of plays, strategy, or performance, given by a sportscaster to heighten interest in a sportscast.
- colors,
- any distinctive color or combination or pattern of colors, especially of a badge, ribbon, uniform, or the like, worn or displayed as a symbol of or to identify allegiance to, membership in, or sponsorship by a school, group, or organization.
- nature, viewpoint, or attitude; character; personality:
His behavior in a crisis revealed his true colors.
- a flag, ensign, etc., particularly the national flag.
- U.S. Navy. the ceremony of hoisting the national flag at 8 a.m. and of lowering it at sunset.
- skin complexion as a characteristic of a particular people or ethnic group, especially when other than white: a person of color; a man of color; children of color.
one's religion and color;
a person of color;
people of color;
a man of color;
alumni of color;
children of color.
- outward appearance or aspect; guise or show:
It was a lie, but it had the color of the truth.
- a pretext:
She did it under the color of doing a good deed.
- Painting. the general use or effect of the pigments in a picture.
- Phonetics. timbre.
- Chiefly Law. an apparent or prima facie right or ground:
to hold possession under color of title.
- Music. tone color.
- a trace or particle of valuable mineral, especially gold, as shown by washing auriferous gravel.
- Physics. any of the labels red, green, or blue that designate the three states in which quarks are expected to exist, or any of the corresponding labels for antiquark states. Compare quantum chromodynamics, quark model.
- Printing. the amount of ink used.
- Heraldry. a tincture other than a fur or metal, usually including gules, azure, vert, sable, and purpure.
adjective
- involving, utilizing, yielding, or possessing color:
a color TV.
verb (used with object)
color.
2abbreviation for
- (in prescriptions) let it be colored.
color
/ ˈkʌlə /
color
/ kŭl′ər /
- The sensation produced by the effect of light waves striking the retina of the eye. The color of something depends mainly on which wavelengths of light it emits, reflects, or transmits.
- Color charge.
- See also hadron
Usage Note
Spelling Note
Derived Forms
- ˈcolorless, adjective
- ˈcolorful, adjective
- ˈcolorable, adjective
- ˈcolorist, noun
- ˈcolorer, noun
- ˈcoloring, noun
Other Words From
- color·er noun
- over·color verb
- pre·color noun verb
- re·color verb (used with object)
- trans·color adjective
- under·color noun
Word History and Origins
Origin of color1
Origin of color2
A Closer Look
Idioms and Phrases
- call to the colors, to summon for service in the armed forces:
Thousands are being called to the colors.
- change color,
- to blush as from embarrassment.
- to turn pale, as from fear:
When he saw the size of his opponent, he changed color.
- of color, belonging to a racial or ethnic group that is not white and generally not associated with European descent or not characterized by slight or light pigmentation of the skin; nonwhite:
Women of color have higher gendered wage gaps than white women.
The program is aimed at supporting children of color with an interest in acting.
People of color are often underrepresented in the sciences.
- with flying colors. flying colors ( def 2 ).
More idioms and phrases containing color
In addition to the idiom beginning with color , also see false colors ; horse of a different color ; lend color to ; look through rose-colored glasses ; under false colors ; with flying colors .Example Sentences
Available in 6 different sizes depending upon your project needs, they also come in a few different binder colors to suit your personal preferences.
In terms of design, Apple made a few tweaks to the materials and colors available this year.
The pencils also have a soft core making the colors ideal for shading and layering.
That may change in the future, as bringing more people of color into leadership tracks has “been the topic in the boardroom for the last several months,” Hanson says.
The tablet comes in a variety of color options, including silver, space gray, rose gold, green, and sky blue finishes.
Even other men of color considered Revels a curious figure, for Mississippi had never had a large free black population.
Similarly, a recent NPR report covered the challenges many police departments are having recruiting officers of color.
The losers have always been children in poverty, children of color, and children with disabilities.
In Brazil people color code their underwear according to their needs.
She says that every film she makes, she has to hit someone—The Color Purple, The Butler, and Selma.
The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow color are the smallest.
She was growing accustomed to like shocks, but she could not keep the mounting color back from her cheeks.
Her attachment to impressionism leads this artist to many experiments in color—or, as one critic wrote, "to play with color."
She also practises etching, pen-and-ink drawing, as well as crayon and water-color sketching.
They are succeeded by kidney shaped capsules of a brown color.
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How Do You Spell Color?
Spelling tips for color
The word color is hard to spell for two reasons. First, it can be difficult to remember whether there is one l or two. Second, in British English, the word is spelled with a u (colour), unlike in American English.
How to spell color: When it comes to color, keep it simple. Too many colors, and too many letters, is distracting. You don’t need an extra l or u.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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