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kermes Definition

ker·mes (kʉr′mēz′)

noun

  1. the dried bodies of the females of certain soft scale insects (genus Kermes), used for making a purple-red dye
  2. this dye
  3. a small, evergreen Mediterranean oak (Quercus coccifera) on which the kermes insects are found

Etymology: Fr kermès < Ar & Pers qirmiz: see carmine

kermes Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • dye: Kermes dye was produced by a process of drying the bodies of the insects and then fermentation.
  • oak: The kermes insect was found on the kermes oak, a native of the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East Countries.

Browse dictionary entries near kermes

  1. ‹ Kermanshah
  2. ‹ Kerman
  3. ‹ Kerkrade
  4. ‹ Kerguelen Islands
  5. ‹ kerfuffle
  6. ‹ kerf
  7. ‹ Keres
  8. ‹ Kerensky
  9. ‹ kerchief
  10. ‹ Kerch
  1. kermis ›
  2. Kermit ›
  3. kern ›
  4. kernel ›
  5. kernite ›
  6. kerogen ›
  7. kerosene ›
  8. Kerouac ›
  9. kerplunk ›
  10. kerria ›