cinereous

[ si-neer-ee-uhs ]

adjective

in the state of or reduced to ashes: cinereous bodies.
resembling ashes.

ashen; ash-colored; grayish: a cinereous bird.

Origin of cinereous

1655–65; <Latin cinereus, equivalent to ciner- (stem of cinis) ashes + -eus-eous

Also cin·er·i·tious [sin-uh-rish-uhs]. /ˌsɪn əˈrɪʃ əs/.

Words Nearby cinereous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cinereous in a sentence

Their colour is generally of a cinereous hue, but a few were noticed that were variegated black and white.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2] | Phillip Parker King
The under wings are without any spots, but are bordered behind by a cinereous thread.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2] | Phillip Parker King
In the arrangement of the cinereous lines, it presents a general resemblance to B. fuscus saur.
Early Western Travels 1748-1846, Volume XVI | Various
Alcorn found the cinereous shrew at most of his trapping stations.
Mammals taken Along the Alaska Highway | Rollin H. Baker
Beneath the long hairs, in all parts, there is a thick coat of cinereous wool of exquisite fineness.
Delineations of the Ox Tribe | George Vasey

British Dictionary definitions for cinereous

cinereous

cineritious (ˌsɪnəˈrɪʃəs)

/ (sɪˈnɪərɪəs) /

adjective

of a greyish colour
resembling or consisting of ashes

Origin of cinereous

C17: from Latin cinereus, from cinis ashes

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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