dye

American  

[dahy] / daɪ /

noun

1. a coloring material or matter.

2. a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc.

3. color or hue, especially as produced by dyeing.

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verb (used with object)

dyed, dyeing

1. to color or stain; treat with a dye; color (cloth, hair, etc.) with a substance containing coloring matter.

   to dye a dress green.

2. to impart (color) by means of a dye.

   The coloring matter dyed green.

verb (used without object)

dyed, dyeing

1. to impart color, as a dye.

   This brand dyes well.

2. to become colored or absorb color when treated with a dye.

   This cloth dyes easily.

idioms

1. of the deepest / blackest dye, of the most extreme or the worst sort.

   a prevaricator of the blackest dye.

dye British  

/ daɪ /

noun

1. a staining or colouring substance, such as a natural or synthetic pigment

2. a liquid that contains a colouring material and can be used to stain fabrics, skins, etc

3. the colour or shade produced by dyeing

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verb

1. (tr) to impart a colour or stain to (something, such as fabric or hair) by or as if by the application of a dye

Other Word Forms

• dyable adjective
• dyeable adjective
• dyer noun
• redye verb (used with object)
• undyable adjective
• undyed adjective

Etymology

Origin of dye

before 1000; Middle English dien, Old English dēagian, derivative of dēag a dye

Example Sentences

“We have to make our own from anything with tannin — oak galls, acorns or black walnuts — and let it sit to dye it black.”

From Los Angeles Times

Surgeons inject a light-activated dye attached to a chemical that binds to targeted cancer cells.

From The Wall Street Journal

Food and beverage companies were already transforming their offerings to embrace the potential impacts, including by rolling out new high-protein products and making commitments to remove artificial food dyes from their products.

From Barron's

They advise vigilance against additives including artificial flavors, dyes and artificial preservatives.

From The Wall Street Journal

The guidelines advise avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, fruit drinks and energy drinks, and limiting goods made with artificial flavors and preservatives, synthetic dyes and low-calorie sweeteners.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• pigment
• stain
• tint