colour

[ kuhl-er ]

/ ˈkʌl ər /

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noun, adjective, verb (used with or without object) Chiefly British.

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usage note for colour

See -or¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM colour

trans·col·our, adjective

Words nearby colour

colostomy, colostomy bag, colostrorrhea, colostrum, colotomy, colour, colourable, colour bar, colour-blind, colour code, colour commentator

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use colour in a sentence

They were dressed in sober colours for today’s brief event, with Harry wearing a suit and tie.
Harry and Meghan Make First Joint Public Appearance Since Quitting Royal Family|Tom Sykes|September 23, 2021|The Daily Beast
Investigating genetic links between grapheme–colour synaesthesia and neuropsychiatric traits.
The Beauty of Crossed Brain Wires - Issue 104: Harmony|Sidney Perkowitz|August 18, 2021|Nautilus
I designed a pattern for the colour work that would signify everything about these games!
Tom Daley Has Unveiled His Olympic Knitting Masterpiece|Melissa Locker|August 6, 2021|Time
The human body comes in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colours, yet people outside the perceived norm have often been seen as threatening, ridiculous or hateful.
Transgender, Transhuman: Technological Advances Offer Increased Choices But Also Create New Prejudices|LGBTQ-Editor|April 9, 2020|No Straight News

You know the cartoon segment that used to be in colour in rancid old newspapers?
The Rancid Ballad of Johnny Rotten: His Memoir Seethes With Anger—And Charm|Legs McNeil|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Soul Survivor, a Christian organization based out of the UK, filmed one of their ‘Colour Chaos’ events with GoPros.
Viral Video of the Day: Other Uses for GoPro|Alex Chancey|August 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Matisse (1869–1954) called it “cutting directly into colour” and the process itself is as fascinating as the results.
This Summer, Get Thee To London For The RSC’s Henry IV|Emma Woolf|April 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She was wonderfully beautiful, but her colour was too deep and her lovely eyes were too bright.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I knew every volume by its colour and examined them all, passing slowly around the library and whistling to keep up my spirits.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The sleeves of his doublet which protruded from his leather casing were of the same colour and material as his trunks.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
His hair was darker—almost brown save at the temples, where age had faded it to an ashen colour.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
Later on, I believe, a child is wont to have his favourite colour, and to be ready to defend it against the preferences of others.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Liking for a single colour is a considerably smaller display of mind than an appreciation of the relation of two colours.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Tressan was monstrous ill-at-ease, and his face lost a good deal of its habitual plethora of colour.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for colour

colour

US color

/ (ˈkʌlə) /

noun

an attribute of things that results from the light they reflect, transmit, or emit in so far as this light causes a visual sensation that depends on its wavelengths
the aspect of visual perception by which an observer recognizes this attribute
the quality of the light producing this aspect of visual perception
(as modifier)colour vision

Also called: chromatic colour

a colour, such as red or green, that possesses hue, as opposed to achromatic colours such as white or black
(as modifier)a colour television; a colour film Compare black-and-white (def. 2)

a substance, such as a dye, pigment, or paint, that imparts colour to something

the skin complexion of a person, esp as determined by his race
(as modifier)colour prejudice; colour problem

the use of all the hues in painting as distinct from composition, form, and light and shade

the quantity and quality of ink used in a printing process

the distinctive tone of a musical sound; timbre

vividness, authenticity, or individualityperiod colour

semblance or pretext (esp in the phrases take on a different colour, under colour of)

US a precious mineral particle, esp gold, found in auriferous gravel

physics one of three characteristics of quarks, designated red, blue, or green, but having no relationship with the physical sensation

verb

to give or apply colour to (something)

(tr) to give a convincing or plausible appearance to (something, esp to that which is spoken or recounted)to colour an alibi

(tr) to influence or distort (something, esp a report or opinion)anger coloured her judgment

(intr often foll by up) to become red in the face, esp when embarrassed or annoyed

(intr) (esp of ripening fruit) to change hue

Word Origin for colour

C13: from Old French colour from Latin color tint, hue

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