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colour

- definition

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noun

/ˈkʌlə(r)/

singular	colour
plural	colours

Other entries for this word

1
[countable/uncountable] red, blue, yellow etc
Pink is my favourite colour.
a light brown colour
change colour:
Many fruits change colour as they become ripe.
in colour:
His hair is reddish in colour.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
1. a.
  [uncountable] the quality of being red, blue, yellow etc, instead of being black and white or transparent
  Pot plants add colour to a room.
  in colour:
  Are the pictures in colour or black and white?
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
2. b.
  [countable] something such as clothing or paint that is a particular colour
  I prefer wearing dark colours.
  Mix the colours with your paintbrush.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
3. c.
  [countable/uncountable] the colour of someone's skin as a sign of their race
  people of all creeds and colours
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
4. d.
  [uncountable] the colour of someone's face when it shows how they are feeling
  Suddenly, the colour drained from his cheeks.
  She giggled nervously as colour flooded her face.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
5. e.
  [countable/uncountable] a chemical that you put on your hair to make it change colour
  Before you spend money on a perm or colour, talk to your hairdresser.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
2
[uncountable] interest or excitement
add/give/bring colour to something:
The examples chosen add colour to the writing.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
See also local colour
3
colours
[plural] the combination of colours used for representing a particular country, team, political party etc
He was wearing the colours of his favourite football team.
national colours:
Australia's national colours
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour
1. a.
  a flag, badge etc used as a symbol of a particular country, team, political party etc
  He gained his school colours for rugby.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour

phrase

see the colour of someone's money
informal
to have proof that someone is going to pay you
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of colour

See also

Word sets: colour

Talking or writing about colours

general

shade one of the different types of a particular colour, especially when describing how dark or light it is: a deep shade of red ♦ subtle shades of blue and green

tone one of the different types of a particular colour: a delicate pink tone ♦ eye shadow in tones of green and brown

-ish used with colours to make adjectives describing things that looks a bit like that colour: reddish hair

dark colours

dark used for describing colours that look more like black than like white: dark green trousers ♦ I think the colour on the walls is far too dark.

deep used for describing dark colours, especially when they look attractive: lovely deep blue eyes

rich used for describing dark colours that look beautiful and expensive: rich brown velvet

sombre dark in a way that seems suitable for a serious occasion or use: The men were wearing sombre suits and black ties.

bright colours

bright strong and noticeable: bright yellow paint

vibrant bright in a way that looks exciting: curtains in vibrant shades of red

colourful brightly coloured, or having a lot of bright colours: wonderfully colourful saris

loud bright in a way that you think looks silly or ugly: He tends to wear silk shirts and loud ties.

gaudy very brightly coloured, especially in a way that you think shows bad taste: Look at those gaudy purple sunglasses!

garish very brightly coloured, especially in a way that you think does not look attractive: garish reds and bright yellows

pale colours

pale like white with a small amount of a colour mixed in: pale grey feathers

light pale rather than dark: Light colours work best in north-facing rooms. ♦ a light blue shirt

pastel pale in a soft and attractive way: used also as a noun referring to a pastel colour or something of such a colour: summer dresses in pastel shades ♦ She often wears pastels. ♦ pastel pink

faded used for describing something that is pale because it has been washed a lot or because it has been affected by light or the sun: faded blue jeans ♦ The paintwork was faded in places.

This is the British English definition of colour. View American English definition of colour.

Change your default dictionary and thesaurus to American English.

View the pronunciation for colour.

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