hue

¹

[hyoo, yoo]

noun

1. a gradation or variety of a color; tint.

   pale hues.

2. the property of light by which the color of an object is classified as red, blue, green, or yellow in reference to the spectrum.

3. color.

   all the hues of the rainbow.

4. form or appearance.

5. complexion.

hue

²

[hyoo]

noun

1. outcry, as of pursuers; clamor.

Hué

³

[hwey]

noun

1. a seaport in central Vietnam: former capital of Annam.

Hué

¹

/ ɥe /

noun

1. a port in central Vietnam, on the delta of the Hué River near the South China Sea: former capital of the kingdom of Annam, of French Indochina (1883–1946), and of Central Vietnam (1946–54). Pop: 377 000 (2005 est)

hue

²

/ hjuː /

noun

1. the attribute of colour that enables an observer to classify it as red, green, blue, purple, etc, and excludes white, black, and shades of grey See also colour

2. a shade of a colour

3. aspect; complexion

   a different hue on matters

hue

1. The property of colors by which they are seen as ranging from red through orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, as determined by the dominant wavelength of the light.

2. Compare saturation value

Other Word Forms

• hueless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English hewe, Old English hīw “appearance, color, form”; cognate with Old Norse hȳ “bird's down,” Swedish hy “complexion, skin,” Gothic hiwi “appearance, form”; akin to Old English hār “gray” ( hoar )

Origin of hue²

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English hu(e), from Middle French: “a hoot, outcry” (whence huer “to hoot, cry out”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hue¹

Old English hīw beauty; related to Old Norse hӯ fine hair, Gothic hiwi form

Example Sentences

The story’s emotional climax, the crescendo of his bold answer to Shakespeare’s soliloquy, is drenched in golden hues to underscore a life or death choice.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The lighting and hues of their respective environments reflect how different their circumstances — and world-views — have become.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Despite their name, most sport a golden-brown hue.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Nichols’s large donation of ceramics to the museum included an Izumo ware teapot glazed in the creamy buttermilk hue that distinguishes its type.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Triggered by an intense geomagnetic storm, the northern lights made a rare visit to the Southland on Tuesday night, painting the skies above the Angeles National Forest in dazzling pink and purple hues.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• complexion 
• tinge 
• tint 
• tone