ochre
Americannoun
noun
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any of various natural earths containing ferric oxide, silica, and alumina: used as yellow or red pigments
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a moderate yellow-orange to orange colour
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( as adjective )
an ochre dress
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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.
These exchanges appear to have encouraged cultural growth, more complex social behavior, and innovations such as formal burials and the symbolic use of ochre for decoration.
From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026
New Zealand's Ally Wollaston reeled in defending champion Noemi Ruegg with a blistering finish for back-to-back stage wins and hold on to her ochre leader's jersey in the Tour Down Under in Adelaide on Sunday.
From Barron's • Jan. 18, 2026
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
The dead man had worn his long brown hair loose, except for a single lock at the temple, matted with red ochre.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
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.
