colour

American  

[kuhl-er] / ˈkʌl ər /

noun

Chiefly British.

1. color.

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colour British  

/ ˈkʌlə /

noun

1. 1. 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

   2. the aspect of visual perception by which an observer recognizes this attribute

   3. the quality of the light producing this aspect of visual perception

   4. ( as modifier )

      colour vision

2. Also called: chromatic colour. 

   1. a colour, such as red or green, that possesses hue, as opposed to achromatic colours such as white or black

   2. ( as modifier ) Compare black-and-white

      a colour television

      a colour film

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

4. 1. the skin complexion of a person, esp as determined by his race

   2. ( as modifier )

      colour prejudice

      colour problem

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

6. the quantity and quality of ink used in a printing process

7. the distinctive tone of a musical sound; timbre

8. vividness, authenticity, or individuality

   period colour

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

10. a precious mineral particle, esp gold, found in auriferous gravel

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

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verb

1. to give or apply colour to (something)

2. (tr) to give a convincing or plausible appearance to (something, esp to that which is spoken or recounted)

   to colour an alibi

3. (tr) to influence or distort (something, esp a report or opinion)

   anger coloured her judgment

4. to become red in the face, esp when embarrassed or annoyed

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

Spelling

See -or ¹.

Other Word Forms

• transcolour
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of colour

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

Explanation

Red, black, lime green, hot pink — these are all examples of colours, or the different kinds of hues that objects have (spelled the British way). Imagine the colours of the rainbow or the colours in a box of crayons. But don't get thrown off by the spelling of this word for pigmentation. When Noah Webster was compiling his dictionary in 1828, he wanted to emphasize that the young United States spoke a different dialect than Britain. Colour with a "u" is a British spelling, and it was probably Webster who shortened it to color in America. Words like honour and flavour got the same treatment.

Example Sentences

His vivid colour photographs now frequently appear in local media outlets -- alongside pictures of fires, explosions and obituaries.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

"To find something in five carat of this quality and this colour is truly remarkable."

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

Episodes will last half an hour and the series is expected to replicate the Wordle typeface and colour scheme.

From BBC • May 11, 2026

The King noted their encounter came "almost a decade before the age of colour television, and of course our paths have crossed many times since".

From BBC • May 8, 2026

The woods in the valley were still leafy and full of colour, and seemed peaceful and wholesome.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien