umber

[ uhm-ber ]

noun

1. an earth consisting chiefly of a hydrated oxide of iron and some oxide of manganese, used in its natural state as a brown pigment raw umber or, after heating, as a reddish-brown pigment burnt umber.
2. the color of such a pigment; dark dusky brown or dark reddish brown.
3. Ichthyology. the European grayling, Thymallus thymallus.
4. North England Dialect. shade; shadow.

adjective

1. of the color umber.

verb (used with object)

1. to color with or as if with umber.

umber

/ ˈʌmbə /

noun

1. any of various natural brown earths containing ferric oxide together with lime and oxides of aluminium, manganese, and silicon See also burnt umber
2. any of the dark brown to greenish-brown colours produced by this pigment
3. short for umber moth
4. obsolete.
   1. shade or shadow
   2. any dark, dusky, or indefinite colour

adjective

1. of, relating to, or stained with umber

Word History and Origins

Origin of umber¹

1250–1300; Middle English umbre, umber shade, shadow < Old French umbre < Latin umbra; in sense “earth” < French terre d'ombre or Italian terra di ombra

Word History and Origins

Origin of umber¹

C16: from French ( terre d' ) ombre or Italian ( terra di ) ombra shadow (earth), from Latin umbra shade

Example Sentences

Bruce in burgundy, violet, pumpkin and umber, and Glen in bright fuchsia and eggplant with an aqua-blue base.

From Seattle Times

One has red-and-white striped overalls; another combines trousers with umber flowers with a red jacket.

From New York Times

The sun was just beginning its ascent over the Mojave, bathing the sand in a smooth umber glow beneath pockets of wispy cloud.

From Los Angeles Times

Behind her is a painting in dark umber of a viola da gamba, a stilled music that suggests or confirms the love theme of the picture.

From New York Times

And as early as 1617, when the teenage Velázquez painted a kitchen maid with umber skin and a white kerchief, Spain clearly had developed an art market for paintings depicting people of color.

From New York Times

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki