Colour

English

Alternative forms

• color (US)

Noun

Colour (countable and uncountable; plural Colours) (British)

1. (uncountable) The spectral composition of visible light
2. (countable) A particular set of visible spectral compositions, perceived or named as a class
3. (uncountable) Hue as opposed to achromatic colours (black, white and greys).
4. (uncountable) Human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity.
5. (figuratively) Interest, especially in a selective area
6. (heraldry): Any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms, including azure, gules, sable, and vert. Contrast with metal.
7. (in the plural) A standard or banner.
8. (in the plural) An award for sporting achievement, particularly within a school or university.
9. (physics) A property of quarks, with three values called red, green, and blue, which they can exchange by passing gluons.
10. (typography) The relative lightness or darkness of a mass of written or printed text on a page.
11. (snooker) Any of the coloured balls excluding the reds.

Verb

Colour (third-person singular simple present Colours, present participle Colouring, simple past and past participle Coloured) (UK, Canada)

1. To give something colour.
2. (intransitive) To apply colours to the areas within the boundaries of a line drawing using coloured markers or crayons.
3. Of a face: To become red through increased blood flow, implying due to strong emotion.
4. To affect without completely changing.
5. (informal) To attribute a quality to.

Adverbs for Colour

amusingly; distinctly; faintly; unevenly; angrily; painfully; brilliantly; synthetically; violently; conspicuously; obscurely; exquisitely; highly; gorgeously; enchantingly; uniformly; vibrantly; iridescently; lavishly; emotionally; crudely; fragilely; gaudily; daringly; normally; decoratively; harmoniously; festively; incredibly; factitiously; flamboyantly; conventionally; exquisitely; garishly.

Adjectives for Colour

blue; red; green; brown; yellow; black; white; purple; pink; light; dark; faded; spectacular; multi-; fall; winter; summer; spring; autumn; living; abnormal; ancient; myriad;

Synonyms

• (spectral composition of visible light): blee
• (particular set named as a class): blee, hue
• (hue, as opposed to achromatic colours): hue, shade, blee
• (human skin tone as an indicator of race or ethnicity): colour of one’s skin, complexion, blee, ethnicity, race
• (interest, especially in a selective area): interest
• (dark tincture): stain
• (standard or banner): banner, standard
• (give something colour) dye, paint, stain, shade, tinge, tint
• (apply colours within boundaries of a line drawing)
• (of a face, become red) blush
• (affect without completely changing) affect, influence
• (attribute a quality to) call

Pronunciation

• (RP) enPR: kŭlʹə, IPA: /ˈkʌlə/, SAMPA: /"kVl@/
• (US) enPR: kŭlʹər, IPA: /ˈkʌlɚ/, SAMPA: /"kVl@`/