a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc.
color or hue, especially as produced by dyeing.
verb (used with object),dyed,dye·ing.
to color or stain; treat with a dye; color (cloth, hair, etc.) with a substance containing coloring matter: to dye a dress green.
to impart (color) by means of a dye: The coloring matter dyed green.
verb (used without object),dyed,dye·ing.
to impart color, as a dye: This brand dyes well.
to become colored or absorb color when treated with a dye: This cloth dyes easily.
Idioms
of the deepest/blackest dye, of the most extreme or the worst sort: a prevaricator of the blackest dye.
Origin of dye
before 1000;Middle Englishdien,Old Englishdēagian, derivative of dēag a dye
Related formsdy·a·ble, dye·a·ble, adjectivedy·er, nounre·dye, verb (used with object),re·dyed,re·dy·ing.un·dy·a·ble, adjectiveun·dyed, adjectiveCan be confuseddiedye
Old English deah, deag "a color, hue, tinge," perhaps related to deagol "secret, hidden, dark, obscure," from Proto-Germanic *daugilaz (cf. Old Saxon dogol "secret," Old High German tougal "dark, hidden, secret").
v.
Old English deagian "to dye," from the source of dye (n.). Spelling distinction between dye and die was not firm till 19c. "Johnson in his Dictionary, spelled them both die, while Addison, his near contemporary, spelled both dye" [Barnhart]. Related: dyed. Figurative phrase dyed in the wool (or grain) is from dyeing while the material is in its raw state, which has a more durable effect.
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