ochre
Americannoun
noun
-
any of various natural earths containing ferric oxide, silica, and alumina: used as yellow or red pigments
-
-
a moderate yellow-orange to orange colour
-
( as adjective )
an ochre dress
-
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ochre
C15: from Old French ocre, from Latin ōchra, from Greek ōkhra, from ōkhros pale yellow
Vocabulary lists containing ochre
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sand and dust storms -- driven by severe drought, rising temperatures and deforestation -- have cloaked cities and villages in an endless ochre haze, grounded flights and filled hospitals with patients suffering from breathing difficulties.
From Barron's • Dec. 28, 2025
Throughout his career, Lowry favored mostly five colors: ochre, blue, black, white and red.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 31, 2025
Prof Herrero also said it is the first time scientists have discovered a stone in an archaeological context with a red ochre dot, meaning Neanderthals brought it to the shelter.
From BBC • May 27, 2025
“We can now be quite confident that ferrihydrite is the dominant iron-bearing mineral causing Mars' distinctive ochre color,” Valentinas said.
From Salon • Mar. 1, 2025
Perhaps it was only the evening twilight that made the ochre yellow of the plaster look so dirty.
From "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
