color
The definition of color is a component of light which is separated when it is reflected off of an object.
(noun)An example of color is the blue in a rainbow.
To color something is to add a hue, shade, paint or dye to an object or picture.
(verb)An example of color is when a child uses crayons to complete a design on paper.
See color in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
- the sensation resulting from stimulation of the retina of the eye by light waves of certain lengths
- the property of reflecting light of a particular wavelength: the distinct colors of the spectrum are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, each of these shading into the next; the primary colors of the spectrum are red, green, and blue, the light beams of which variously combined can produce any of the colors
- any coloring matter; dye; pigment; paint: the primary colors of paints, pigments, etc. are red, yellow, and blue, which, when mixed in various ways, produce the secondary colors (green, orange, purple, etc.): black, white, and gray are often called colors (achromatic colors), although black is caused by the complete absorption of light rays, white by the reflection of all the rays that produce color, and gray by an imperfect absorption of all these rays
- any color other than black, white, or gray; chromatic color: color is distinguished by the qualities of hue (as red, brown, yellow, etc.), lightness (for pigmented surfaces) or brightness (for light itself), and saturation (the degree of intensity of a hue)
- color of the face; esp., a healthy rosiness or a blush
- the color of a person's skin
- skin pigmentation of a particular people or racial group, esp. when other than white
- a colored badge, ribbon, costume, etc. that identifies the wearer
- a flag or banner of a country, regiment, etc.
- the armed forces of a country, symbolized by the flag: to serve with the colors
- the side that a person is on; position or opinion: stick to your colors
- outward appearance or semblance; plausibility
- appearance of truth, likelihood, validity, or right; justification: the circumstances gave color to his contention
- general nature; character: the color of his mind
- vivid quality or character, as in a personality, literary work, etc.
- Art the way of using color, esp. to gain a total effect
- Law an apparent or prima-facie right
- ☆ Mining a trace of gold found in panning
- Music
- timbre, as of a voice or instrument; tone color
- elaborate ornamentation
- Particle Physics a unique force or charge on each type of quark that controls how quarks combine to form hadrons: although called red, green, and blue, they are not related to visual colors
- Photog., TV reproduction of images in chromatic colors rather than in black, white, and gray
- TV, Radio colorful details, background data, etc. supplied by a sports commentator between play-by-play descriptions of the action
Origin: ME & OFr colour < L color < OL colos, orig., a covering < IE base *kel-, to conceal, hide > hull, hall
adjective
transitive verb
- to give color to; impregnate or cover with color, as with paint, stain, or dye
- to change the color of
- to give a pleasing, convincing, or reasonable appearance to; make plausible
- to alter or influence to some degree, as by distortion or exaggeration: prejudice colored his views
Origin: L colorare
intransitive verb
- to become colored
- to change color, as ripening fruit
- to blush or flush
- to engage in the child's pastime of drawing or coloring pictures with wax crayons, etc.
Related Forms:
- colorer noun
See color in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
- That aspect of things that is caused by differing qualities of the light reflected or emitted by them, definable in terms of the observer or of the light, as:a. The appearance of objects or light sources described in terms of the individual's perception of them, involving hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources.b. The characteristics of light by which the individual is made aware of objects or light sources through the receptors of the eye, described in terms of dominant wavelength, luminance, and purity.
- A substance, such as a dye, pigment, or paint, that imparts a hue.
- a. The general appearance of the skin; complexion.b. A ruddy complexion.c. A reddening of the face; a blush.
- The skin pigmentation of a person not categorized as white.
- colors A flag or banner, as of a country or military unit.
- colors The salute made during the ceremony of raising or lowering a flag.
- colors A distinguishing symbol, badge, ribbon, or mark: the colors of a college.
- colors One's opinion or position: Stick to your colors.
- Character or nature. Often used in the plural: revealed their true colors.
- a. Outward appearance, often deceptive: a tale with the merest color of truth.b. Appearance of authenticity: testimony that lends color to an otherwise absurd notion.
- a. Variety of expression.b. Vivid, picturesque detail: a story with a lot of color in it.
- Traits of personality or behavior that attract interest.
- The use or effect of pigment in painting, as distinct from form.
- Music Quality of tone or timbre.
- Law A mere semblance of legal right.
- A particle or bit of gold found in auriferous gravel or sand.
- Physics A quantum characteristic of quarks that determines their role in the strong interaction.
- To impart color to or change the color of.
- a. To give a distinctive character or quality to; modify. See Synonyms at bias.b. To exert an influence on; affect: The war colored the soldier's life.
- a. To misrepresent, especially by distortion or exaggeration: color the facts.b. To gloss over; excuse: a parent who colored the children's lies.
- a. To take on color.b. To change color.
- To become red in the face; blush.
Origin:
Origin: Middle English colour
Origin: , from Old French
Origin: , from Latin color; see kel-1 in Indo-European roots
.Related Forms:
- colˈor·er noun
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color
See color in Ologies
Color
1. the total absence of color.
2. the ability to emit, reflect, or transmit light without breaking down into separate colors. Also achromatism.
color blindness. Also called acritochromacy.
acyanoblepsia
a variety of color blindness characterized by an inability to distinguish blue.
the condition of being or becoming white or whitish. —albescent, adj.
albication
the process of turning white or whitish.
the condition or quality of changing in color or luster depending on the angle of light, exhibited especially by a gemstone that reflects a single shaft of light when cut in cabochon form. —chatoyant, adj.
the branch of opties that studies the properties of colors.
1. Opties, dispersion or distortion of color.
2. abnormal coloration. See also botany.
chromatology
the study of colors. Also called chromatography.
chromatrope
an instrument consisting of an arrangement of colored dises which, when rotated rapidly, give the impression of colors flowing to or from the center.
an abnormal fear of colors.
chromoptometer
a device for measuring the degree of a person’s sense of color.
chromotypography, chromotypy
the process of color printing.
the measurement of the physical intensity of colors, as opposed to their subjective brightness. —colorimeter, n. —colorimetric, colorimetrical, adj.
cyanometry
the measurement of the intensity of the sky’s blue color. —cyanometer, n. —cyanometric, adj.
red-green color blindness.
a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to green. —deuteranope, n. —deuteranopic, adj.
a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of reflecting light in two different colors when viewed from two different directions. —dichroic, adj.
1. the quality of being dichromatic, or having two colors.
2. a form of color blindness in which the sufferer can perceive only two of the three primary colors and their variants. —dichromatic, adj.
difficulty in telling colors apart; color blindness.
erythrophobia
an abnormal fear of the color red.
the condition of being florid or highly colored, especially reddish, used especially of the complexion. —florid, adj.
glaucescence
1. the state or quality of being a silvery or bluish green in color.
2. the process of turning this color. —glaucescent, adj.
the occurrence of unusually intense coloration. —hyperchromatic, adj.
indigometer
an instrument used for determining the strength of an indigo solution.
indigometry
the practice and art of determining the strength and coloring power of an indigo solution.
the state or condition of being colored like a rainbow or like the light shining through a prism. —iridescent, adj.
irisation
the process of making or becoming iridescent.
iriscope
a polished black glass, the surface of which becomes iridescent when it is breathed upon through a tube.
melanoscope
an optical device composed of red and violet glass that transmits red light only, used for distinguishing red in varicolored flames.
change in color, especially as a result of change in temperature.
1. the quality of being of only one color or in only one color, as a work of art.
2. a defect of eyesight in which the retina cannot perceive color. —monochromatic, adj.
the property of acting as a flxative in dyeing. — mordant, n., adj.
the quality of being opallike, or milkily iridescent. —opalescent, adj.
pallidity
a faintness or deficiency in color. —pallid, adj.
the quality or condition of being lsensitive to all colors, as certain types of photographic film. —panchromatic, adj.
polychromatism
the state or quality of being multicolored. —polychromatic, polychromie, adj.
a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to red. —protanope, n. —protanopic, adj.
1. the state, condition, quality, or process of becoming or being red.
2. a blush.
3. the act of blushing. —rubescent, adj.
1. the tendency to turn red or reddish.
2. reddishness. —rufescent, adj.
a photograph of a spectrum. Also called spectrograph.
1. an optical device for breaking light down into a spectrum and recording the results photographically.
2. a spectrogram. —spectrographic, adj.
the technique of using a spectrograph and producing spectrograms.
a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of transmitting light of three different colors when viewed from three different directions. Also trichromatism. —trichroic, adj.
1. the condition of having, using, or combining three colors.
2. trichroism. —trichromatic, adj.
a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to blue and yellow. —tritanope, n. —tritanopic, adj.
the quality or condition of being green, as the condition of being covered with green plants or grass or inexperience attributable to youth. —verdant, adj.
1. the state or quality of being green or greenish.
2. greenishness. —viridescent, adj.
xanthocyanopsy, xanthocyanopy
a form of color blindness in which only yellow and blue can be perceived.
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