colour

[ kuhl-er ]

/ ˈkʌl ər /

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

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.

Question 1 of 13

How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?

gato/gata

cato/cata

gatto/gatta

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for colour

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
From his blood the true Alpen rose sprang, and took its colour.
Ice-Caves of France and Switzerland|George Forrest Browne
But the splotch of colour he saw in the shadow of the gate halted him instantly and changed the currents of his thoughts.
Wang the Ninth|Putnam Weale
Mildred's colour came and went with agitation, and she panted as if her heart would break.
Trevethlan (Vol 3 of 3)|William Davy Watson
It reaches a length of eight inches or more, and varies in colour according to the sand or mud in which it lives.
The Sea Shore|William S. Furneaux
Here there is no colour at all, so the mantling would be gules and argent.
A Complete Guide to Heraldry|Arthur Charles Fox-Davies

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

colour

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

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

usage note for colour

OTHER WORDS FROM colour

Words nearby colour

Example sentences from the Web for colour

British Dictionary definitions for colour

US color

noun

verb

Word Origin for colour