dye

[ dahy ]
See synonyms for: dyedyed on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a coloring material or matter.

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

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

verb (used with object),dyed, dye·ing.
  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, dye·ing.
  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 about dye

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

Origin of dye

1
before 1000; Middle English dien,Old English dēagian, derivative of dēag a dye

Other words from dye

  • dy·a·ble, dye·a·ble, adjective
  • dyer, noun
  • re·dye, verb (used with object), re·dyed, re·dy·ing.
  • un·dy·a·ble, adjective
  • un·dyed, adjective

Words that may be confused with dye

Words Nearby dye

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use dye in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for dye

dye

/ (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

  1. the colour or shade produced by dyeing

verbdyes, dyeing or dyed
  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

Origin of dye

1
Old English dēagian, from dēag a dye; related to Old High German tugōn to change, Lettish dūkans dark

Derived forms of dye

  • dyable or dyeable, adjective
  • dyer, noun

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