indigo

[ in-di-goh ]

noun

, plural in·di·gos, in·di·goes.

1. a blue dye obtained from various plants, especially of the genus Indigofera, or manufactured synthetically.
2. indigo blue ( def 2 ).
3. any of numerous hairy plants belonging to the genus Indigofera, of the legume family, having pinnate leaves and clusters of usually red or purple flowers.
4. a color ranging from a deep violet blue to a dark, grayish blue.

adjective

1. Also called indigo-blue, of the color indigo.

indigo

/ ˈɪndɪˌɡəʊ; ˌɪndɪˈɡɒtɪk /

noun

1. Also calledindigotin a blue vat dye originally obtained from plants but now made synthetically
2. any of various tropical plants of the leguminous genus Indigofera, such as the anil, that yield this dye Compare wild indigo
3. 1. any of a group of colours that have the same blue-violet hue; a spectral colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      an indigo carpet

Derived Forms

• indigotic, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of indigo¹

1545–55; < Spanish or Portuguese, variant of índico < Latin indicum < Greek indikón, noun use of neuter of Indikós Indic

Word History and Origins

Origin of indigo¹

C16: from Spanish indico, via Latin from Greek Indikos of India

Example Sentences

Through the window of an upper floor office in West Hollywood, the sky changed from cyan to navy and then indigo blue.

From Los Angeles Times

But over the years, indigo fell out of favour because growing the crop damaged the soil excessively.

From BBC

Among the other types of birds were also soras, indigo buntings and wood thrushes.

From New York Times

“Yeah. Those are the indigo fields. Do you know the story of how our ancestors infused the Gift into blue-glass bottles using indigo plants?”

From Literature

The most seductive pieces include designs in colored ink; one square constellation of ruffled lines reminiscent of a Gothic chapel’s floor plan steps from indigo to yellow.

From New York Times

Related Words

• blue-green