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

This overlook, near the visitor center, stares down into the maw of the striped ochre walls as they plunge 800 feet to the canyon floor below.

From Outside Online

The toilet area is painted an ochre color, darker than the rest of the dorm.

From Washington Blade

It has faded from pixelated gray to rusted ochre, fringed on the edges with black sweat grease.

From The Daily Beast

The ochre spaghetti you get looks steampunk, but tastes just fine.

From The Daily Beast

Our guide, Mouha, glanced up at the trail that disappeared far into the ochre uplands.

From The Daily Beast

In this 1962 painting, called “Ochre and Black,” Gottlieb shows us pulling a face.

From The Daily Beast

Burnt ochre, which is very serviceable in stucco work, is made as follows.

From Project Gutenberg

Into this they pour chalk and bray it, obtaining the colour of Attic yellow ochre.

From Project Gutenberg

Brick dust and yellow ochre are sometimes found as adulterants.

From Project Gutenberg

The female must content herself with burnt sienna back-covering which comes down onto her ochre-coloured belly.

From Project Gutenberg

"Churinga" in Australia are greased with the natural moisture of the palm of the hand, and rubbed with red ochre.

From Project Gutenberg