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color

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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
1. a flag or banner of a country, regiment, etc.
2. 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
1. timbre, as of a voice or instrument; tone color
2. 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

adjective

TV, Radio designating or of a sports commentator who supplies color ()

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

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

(kŭlˈər)

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.

verb col·ored, col·or·ing, col·ors

verb, transitive

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.

verb, intransitive

a. To take on color.
b. To change color.
To become red in the face; blush.

Related Forms:

colˈor·er noun

Usage Note: Dissatisfaction with the implications of nonwhite as a racial label has doubtless contributed to the recent popularity of the term person of color and others, such as woman of color, with the same construction. In effect, person of color stands nonwhite on its head, substituting a positive for a negative. It is interesting that the almost exclusive association in American English of colored with Black does not carry over to terms formed with “of color,” which are used inclusively of most groups other than those of European origin. See Usage Notes at colored, nonwhite.

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color

See color in Ologies

Color

achromaticity

1. the total absence of color.

2. the ability to emit, reflect, or transmit light without breaking down into separate colors. Also achromatism.

achromatopsia

color blindness. Also called acritochromacy.

acyanoblepsia

a variety of color blindness characterized by an inability to distinguish blue.

albescence

the condition of being or becoming white or whitish. —albescent, adj.

albication

the process of turning white or whitish.

chatoyancy

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.

chromatics

the branch of opties that studies the properties of colors.

chromatism

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.

chromophobia

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.

colorimetry

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.

Daltonism

red-green color blindness.

deuteranopia

a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to green. —deuteranope, n. —deuteranopic, adj.

dichroism

a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of reflecting light in two different colors when viewed from two different directions. —dichroic, adj.

dichromatism

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.

dyschromatopsia

difficulty in telling colors apart; color blindness.

erythrophobia

an abnormal fear of the color red.

floridity

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.

hyperchromatism

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.

iridescence

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.

metachromatism

change in color, especially as a result of change in temperature.

monochromatism

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.

mordancy, mordacity

the property of acting as a flxative in dyeing. — mordant, n., adj.

opalescence

the quality of being opallike, or milkily iridescent. —opalescent, adj.

pallidity

a faintness or deficiency in color. —pallid, adj.

panchromatism

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.

protanopia

a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to red. —protanope, n. —protanopic, adj.

rubescence

1. the state, condition, quality, or process of becoming or being red.

2. a blush.

3. the act of blushing. —rubescent, adj.

rufescence

1. the tendency to turn red or reddish.

2. reddishness. —rufescent, adj.

spectrogram

a photograph of a spectrum. Also called spectrograph.

spectrograph

1. an optical device for breaking light down into a spectrum and recording the results photographically.

2. a spectrogram. —spectrographic, adj.

spectrography

the technique of using a spectrograph and producing spectrograms.

trichroism

a property, peculiar to certain crystals, of transmitting light of three different colors when viewed from three different directions. Also trichromatism. —trichroic, adj.

trichromatism

1. the condition of having, using, or combining three colors.

2. trichroism. —trichromatic, adj.

tritanopia

a defect of the eyesight in which the retina does not respond to blue and yellow. —tritanope, n. —tritanopic, adj.

verdancy

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.

viridescence

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.

Learn more about color

» color synonyms

» COLOR abbreviations & acronyms

» color legal definition

» color medical definition

» color phrase meanings

» color science