carmine
Americannoun
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a crimson or purplish-red color.
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a crimson pigment obtained from cochineal.
noun
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a vivid red colour, sometimes with a purplish tinge
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( as adjective )
carmine paint
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a pigment of this colour obtained from cochineal
Etymology
Origin of carmine
1705–15; < French carmin (color), carmine (pigment), Old French; compare Medieval Latin carminium, perhaps blend of carmesīnum ( see crimson) and minium minium
Explanation
Carmine is the color red, but it isn’t just any red — it’s a vivid, rich shade of deep ruby or blood red, like a ripe, juicy tomato, a tasty cherry, or a rich red lipstick. Carmine is a deep red pigment historically made by crushing the dried-out bodies of beetles. This method is still in use, but there are now alternative ways to produce this vibrant red dye, which is commonly used in beauty, fashion, and food products. The term carmine can refer to both the powdered pigment and the color itself. So the next time you encounter a strikingly vivid red — whether in a fabric or a food (like candy or ketchup) — it might just be colored by beetles!
Vocabulary lists containing carmine
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A seventh-generation Roman, Francesco Totti dreamed of sporting the same carmine red and gold as the heroes plastered across his childhood bedroom wall.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2026
For years he’s been reviving the use of natural rather than synthetic textile dyes, notably including carmine.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 29, 2024
Some of Mexico’s most picturesque and imposing colonial cities, like Oaxaca, were essentially built on the wealth derived from cochineal dye, also called carmine, and known as “grana cochinilla” in Spanish.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 1, 2023
During this Era of Exploration, consumers also got their pink cheeks and lips from other pigments like carmine, derived from cochineal insects harvested in Central and South America under similar conditions.
From National Geographic ● Jul. 21, 2023
A kaleidoscope of color, blazing with carmine and coral and canary, so much so that the entire room often appears to be on fire, dotted with fluffy kittens dark as soot and bright as sparks.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
