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gamboge

[gam-bohj, -boozh]
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noun
  1. Also cambogia. a gum resin from various Asian trees of the genus Garcinia, especially G. hanburyi, used as a yellow pigment and as a cathartic.
  2. yellow or yellow-orange.
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Origin of gamboge

1625–35; < New Latin gambog- (stem of gambogium), variant of cambog-, after Cambodia
Related formsgam·bo·gi·an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gamboge

Historical Examples

  • Gamboge is of a gum-resinous nature and clear yellow colour.

    Field's Chromatography

    George Field

  • Perhaps in dyeing, the lead and gamboge solutions might be worth a trial.

  • The coat of gamboge is lastly to be applied in the same way.

  • The sun which had neared the horizon was dying in throes of crimson and gamboge.

  • Buildings are sometimes tinted with a mixture of lake and gamboge.

British Dictionary definitions for gamboge

gamboge

noun
    1. a gum resin used as the source of a yellow pigment and as a purgative
    2. the pigment made from this resin
  2. gamboge tree any of several tropical Asian trees of the genus Garcinia, esp G. hanburyi, that yield this resin: family Clusiaceae
  3. a strong yellow colour
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Also called (for senses 1, 2): cambogia
Derived Formsgambogian, adjective

Word Origin

C18: from New Latin gambaugium, from Cambodia
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