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

Then she lifts and lowers the weight very slowly until her cheeks are flushed pink.

From Los Angeles Times

What made the victory even sweeter was that Ipswich were wearing their pink third kit, which was designed in collaboration with Sheeran, for the first time.

From BBC

At Colorado and Main, I continued straight, and there it was: the Pacific Ocean bathed in pinks and oranges.

From Los Angeles Times

“Definitely the color pink. It’s used to such great effect on our show,” she says.

From Los Angeles Times

Wear pink clothes and skirts, if you like!

From Salon