color

n.

1. The quality of reflected light

   hue, tone, shade, tinge, tint, pigment, chroma, tinct, luminosity, chromaticity, undertone, value, iridescence, intensity, polychromasia, colorimetric quality, coloration, discoloration, pigmentation, coloring, complexion, cast, glow, blush, wash, tincture; see also tint. see also black 1, blue 1, brown, gold 1, gray 1, green 1, orange, pink, purple, red, tan, yellow 1.

   Antonyms blackness, blankness, pallor.

   Colors include --- colors in the solar spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet; physiological or additive primary colors: red, green, blue; psychological primary colors: red, yellow, green, blue, black, white; primary colors in painting: red, blue, yellow; achromatic colors: black, white, gray; secondary colors: green, orange, violet;

2. Vividness

   brilliance, intensity, piquancy, zest, freshness, liveliness, vitality, force, interest, local color, colorfulness, brightness, richness, glow.

   Antonyms drabness, dullness*, dimness.

3. Semblance or pretense

   appearance, pretext, guise; see appearance 1, 2, disguise, pretense 1.

color is the general term for the property of reflecting light of a particular wavelength, allowing the eye to distinguish red, orange, yellow, blue, etc.; shade refers to any of the gradations of a color with reference to its degree of darkness a light shade of green; hue, often equivalent to color, may more specifically indicate a modification of a basic color a reddish hue; in technical use, hue refers to the distinctive property of a color that enables it to be assigned a position in the spectrum; tint refers to a gradation of a color with reference to its degree of whiteness and suggests a paleness or delicacy of color pastel tints; tinge suggests the presence of a small amount of color, usually diffused throughout white with a tinge of blue

call to the colors

change color

lose color

under color of

color

v.

1. To impart color to

   tint, dye, paint, stain, tinge, gloss, infuse, chalk, daub, gild, fresco, japan, enamel, lacquer, suffuse, stipple, variegate, pigment, distemper, glaze, tone, shade, wash, crayon, chrome, enliven, embellish, give color to, adorn, imbue, emblazon, illuminate, rouge; see also decorate, paint 1, 2.

   Antonyms bleach, fade*, deaden.

2. To take on color

   blush, flush, redden, become rosy, turn red, bloom, glow, flame; see also blush.

   Antonyms pale, whiten*, grow ashen.

3. To misrepresent

   distort, pervert, slant; see corrupt 2, influence.