three-color

American  

[three-kuhl-er] / ˈθriˌkʌl ər /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of three-color

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

During karaoke, someone would deliver a King’s Hawaiian three-color pastel Paradise cake.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2025

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 • Oct. 1, 2022

The Thai restaurant is known for its three-color curry dishes, noodle soups and waterfall sauce.

From Washington Post • Jan. 19, 2017

Color television uses a three-color system in which the screen is covered with equal numbers of red, green, and blue phosphor dots.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

Nearly all three-color process houses are now prepared to add a fourth, or key, plate, to be printed in black, in case the subject seems to need it.

From The Building of a Book A Series of Practical Articles Written by Experts in the Various Departments of Book Making and Distributing by Hitchcock, Frederick H.