cyan

[ sahy-an, sahy-uhn ]

/ ˈsaɪ æn, ˈsaɪ ən /

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noun

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Origin of cyan

First recorded in 1885–90, cyan is from the Greek word kýanos dark blue

Words nearby cyan

cwt, CWU, cx, cy, CYA, cyan, cyanamide, cyanate, cyan blue, cyaneous, cyanic

Other definitions for cyan (2 of 4)

cyan-¹

variant of cyano-¹, usually before a vowel or h: cyanamide.

Other definitions for cyan (3 of 4)

cyan-²

variant of cyano-², before a vowel.

Other definitions for cyan (4 of 4)

cyan-³

variant of cyano-³, before a vowel.

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

How to use cyan in a sentence

She picked up a corner of a cyan-blue UNICEF sticker and stuck it over her mouth.
The Life of a Liberian Child with Ebola|Sarah Crowe|November 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Choit documents the fading, cyan-heavy images that circulate in shop windows all over modern cities.
CPR For Dying Photos|Blake Gopnik|November 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Pic: Barb Choit shows us old images as they fade to black – or cyan.
CPR For Dying Photos|Blake Gopnik|November 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Cyan likes the rapper Nicki Minaj and has been known to call Minaj her sister.
Is She a Killer?|Bryan Curtis|December 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST

Erika Brown said Cyan is the kind of daughter who is almost too forthcoming for her mother.
Is She a Killer?|Bryan Curtis|December 30, 2009|DAILY BEAST
Fus I'se 'blige whup 'im school, 'n' nex' I cyan' git 'im 'way ter bless me!
McClure's Magazine, Vol. 31, No. 1, May 1908|Various
Ne mihte se dumba fder cyan his wife hu se engel his cilde naman gesette, ac, urh Godes Gastes onwrigenysse, se nama hire wear cu.
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church|lfric
He ws geld to heofonan o a riddan fleringe, and r h geseh and gehyrde Godes digelnysse, a h ne moste nanum men cyan.
The Homilies of the Anglo-Saxon Church|lfric
Cyan′otype, a photograph on paper sensitised by a cyanide; Cyan′uret, a cyanide.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 1 of 4: A-D)|Various

British Dictionary definitions for cyan (1 of 2)

cyan

/ (ˈsaɪæn, ˈsaɪən) /

noun

a highly saturated green-blue that is the complementary colour of red and forms, with magenta and yellow, a set of primary colours

adjective

of this coloura cyan filter

Word Origin for cyan

C19: from Greek kuanos dark blue

British Dictionary definitions for cyan (2 of 2)

cyan-

combining form

a variant of cyano- cyanamide; cyanide

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