hue

¹

[hyoo, yoo]

noun

1. a gradation or variety of a color; tint.

   pale hues.

2. the property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green, or yellow in reference to the spectrum.

3. color.

   all the hues of the rainbow.

4. form or appearance.

5. complexion.

hue

²

[hyoo]

noun

1. outcry, as of pursuers; clamor.

Hué

³

[hwey]

noun

1. a seaport in central Vietnam: former capital of Annam.

Hué

¹

/ ɥe /

noun

1. a port in central Vietnam, on the delta of the Hué River near the South China Sea: former capital of the kingdom of Annam, of French Indochina (1883–1946), and of Central Vietnam (1946–54). Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)

hue

²

/ hjuː /

noun

1. the attribute of colour that enables an observer to classify it as red, green, blue, purple, etc, and excludes white, black, and shades of grey See also colour

2. a shade of a colour

3. aspect; complexion

   a different hue on matters

hue

1. The property of colors by which they are seen as ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, as determined by the dominant wavelength of the light.

2. Compare saturation value

Other Word Forms

• hueless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hewe, Old English hīw “appearance, color, form”; cognate with Old Norse hȳ “bird's down,” Swedish hy “complexion, skin,” Gothic hiwi “appearance, form”; akin to Old English hār “gray” ( hoar )

Origin of hue²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English hu(e), from Middle French: “a hoot, outcry” (whence huer “to hoot, cry out”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

Old English hīw beauty; related to Old Norse hӯ fine hair, Gothic hiwi form

Example Sentences

Over the next two weeks, surfers and beachgoers in Santa Monica may spot waves that have a pink, fluorescent hue — but officials say not to worry.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was certainly careful to articulate which sections of his informed reconstructions came from actual mural fragments, painting those irregular shapes in deeper hues, like dispersed puzzle pieces.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Sky-watchers around the world have been witnessing a striking Blood Moon - a phenomenon that happens when the Moon passes through the Earth's shadow, taking on a deep red hue.

Read more on BBC

As it passes through Earth's shadow, it will take on a deep red hue, creating a striking "Blood Moon".

Read more on BBC

“This assumption that of all the hues of God whiteness alone is inherently and obviously better than brownness or tan leads to curious acts,” he wrote.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• complexion 
• tinge 
• tint 
• tone