dye
- a coloring material or matter.
- a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc.
- color or hue, especially as produced by dyeing.
- 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.
- 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.
- of the deepest/blackest dye, of the most extreme or the worst sort: a prevaricator of the blackest dye.
Origin of dye
Examples from the Web for dye
Contemporary Examples of dye
They dye their hair and alter their clothes, but not enough to attract attention from authorities.
North Korea’s Secret Movie Bootleggers: How Western Films Make It Into the Hermit KingdomLizzie Crocker
December 22, 2014
Fame came only after Cohn pressured her to diet, dye her hair, cap her teeth, and change her name.
Should We Give Kim Novak a Break on the Oscar Plastic Surgery Hate-Tweeting?Lizzie Crocker
March 6, 2014
“However, the dye job takes about five hours, and costs at least 600 yuan,” or nearly $100, says one employee.
Judd Apatow is the one who famously had you dye your hair red for your breakout role in Superbad.
To get Uggie to look like the other two dogs, handlers bathed him in a dye that turned his coat white for several months.
Historical Examples of dye
You can't see his face for his whiskers, and can't see his whiskers for the dye upon 'em.
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
They dye them different colours, and cloath themselves therewith.
The History of LouisianaLe Page Du Pratz
For verily, it is as ridiculous to dye the hair white as to dye it black.
The Book of KhalidAmeen Rihani
To dye gloves to look like York tan or Limerick, put some saffron into a pint of water boiling hot, and let it infuse all night.
Dry a small piece of the lining to see whether the colour is deep enough; and if approved, put it in and wash it in the dye.
dye
- a staining or colouring substance, such as a natural or synthetic pigment
- a liquid that contains a colouring material and can be used to stain fabrics, skins, etc
- the colour or shade produced by dyeing
- (tr) to impart a colour or stain to (something, such as fabric or hair) by or as if by the application of a dye
Word Origin for dye
Word Origin and History for dye
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").
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.
dye
(dī)- A substance used to color materials or substances, such as cells, tissues, and microorganisms.