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carmine Definition

car·mine (kär′min, -mīn′)

noun

  1. a red or purplish-red pigment obtained mainly from cochineal
  2. its color

Etymology: Fr carmin < ML carminium < Ar qirmiz, crimson (< Sans kṛimiǧā, insect-produced < kṛmi, worm, insect: the dye comes from crushed insects: see cochineal); form infl. by L minium, cinnabar red

adjective

red or purplish-red; crimson

carmine Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • indigo: The coating of the 30 mg tablets also contains indigo carmine ( E132 ).
  • powdered: A bit of powdered carmine mixed with a drop of Paramecium culture on a slide always produces interesting results.

Modifies a noun

  • red: We have added four different varieties with colors going from pure white through to carmine red, all heavily perfumed.
  • flower: The nuts which are delicious but always scarce form where the tiny carmine female flowers appear.

Browse dictionary entries near carmine

  1. ‹ carminative
  2. ‹ Carmelite
  3. ‹ Carmel
  4. ‹ Carmarthenshire
  5. ‹ carman
  6. ‹ carmaker
  7. ‹ carmagnole
  8. ‹ Carlyle
  9. ‹ Carlson
  10. ‹ Carlow
  1. carnage ›
  2. carnal ›
  3. carnality ›
  4. carnallite ›
  5. Carnap ›
  6. carnassial ›
  7. Carnatic ›
  8. carnation ›
  9. carnauba ›
  10. Carnegie ›