crimson
Americannoun
verb
-
to make or become crimson
-
(intr) to blush
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of crimson
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English cremesin, cremesie, crensein, crim(e)sin, from Medieval Latin cremesīnus, ultimately from Arabic qirmizī, equivalent to qirmiz + -ī a suffix indicating relationship or origin; see origin at kermes; see also carmine, cramoisy
Explanation
Crimson is a deep, vivid shade of red. You could describe flowers, blood, or blushing cheeks as crimson. The ruby red color crimson shows up brilliantly in nature, in the form of flowers, birds, and insects. In fact, it was an insect that led to the word crimson in the first place; an insect called kermes was used for centuries to make a deep red dye, which was called cremesin in Old Spanish and eventually became crimson.
Vocabulary lists containing crimson
"The Great Gatsby," Chapter 1 Vocabulary
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Frindle
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Red
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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.
At Harvard it jumped from 3% to 21% in a decade, according to The Harvard Crimson, the university’s student newspaper.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
Simpson impressed as the starter for the Crimson Tide last year, throwing 28 touchdowns with only five interceptions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026
The Crimson Tide went through seven different coaches over the next 27 years, winning only one national championship, before Coach Nick Saban restored its place as the dominant college football team in 2009.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
Crimson is one of the youngest mountain lion cubs the zoo has ever cared for, and ensuring he reaches adulthood is no easy task.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026
Crimson suede sofas sat cordially next to the stained upholstery love seat my father had dragged in from the dump many years before.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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.
