rouge

¹

[ roozh ]

noun

1. any of various red cosmetics for coloring the cheeks or lips.
2. a reddish powder, chiefly ferric oxide, used for polishing metal, glass, etc.
3. Canadian football.

verb (used with object)

, rouged, roug·ing.

1. to color with rouge.

verb (used without object)

, rouged, roug·ing.

1. to use rouge.

rouge

²

[ roozh ]

adjective

, French.

1. red; noting the red numbers in roulette.

rouge

/ ruːʒ /

noun

1. a red powder, used as a cosmetic for adding redness to the cheeks
2. short for jeweller's rouge

verb

1. to apply rouge to

Other Words From

• un·rouged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rouge¹

1475–85; < French: red < Latin rubeus; akin to red ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of rouge¹

C18: from French: red, from Latin rubeus

Example Sentences

I scooped up a pét-nat rouge, a rosé and a red blend on my way out of town at Yakima’s Apple Valley Emporium, a combination skateboard and bottle shop.

From Seattle Times

They gather flowers and spread them at the door; Butterfly rouges her cheeks and puts on the wedding garments she wore the night she and the lieutenant fell in love.

From New York Times

Instead of wearing lipstick or rouge, I darken my eyebrows.

From New York Times

A 9-year-old girl in heavy rouge and a red two-piece leotard does a standing split outside, tugging her knee above her head.

From New York Times

Powder puffs, brushes, and pots of rouge sat like macaroons on a candy tray.

From Literature