pink

[ pingk ]

/ pɪŋk /

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See synonyms for: pink / pinker / pinkest / pinkness on Thesaurus.com

noun

a color varying from light crimson to pale reddish purple.

any of several plants of the genus Dianthus, as the clove pink or carnation.Compare pink family.

the flower of such a plant; carnation.

the highest or best form, degree, or example of something: Those runners are in the pink of condition. Her parties are the pink of perfection.

Older Slang: Disparaging. pinko.

Business Informal. a carbon copy, as of a sales slip or invoice, made on pink tissue paper.

pinks,

Fox Hunting. pink coat.
pinkish-tan gabardine trousers formerly worn by military officers as part of the dress uniform.

the scarlet color of hunting pinks.

adjective, pink·er, pink·est.

of the color pink: pink marble.

Older Slang: Disparaging.

holding mildly leftist political opinions.
leaning toward communist ideology.

Informal. of or relating to gay people or gay sexual orientation.

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Idioms about pink

in the pink, healthy, physically fit, or in high spirits: I’m feeling very much in the pink today, after a refreshing walk in the countryside.

tickled pink. tickle (def. 11).

Origin of pink

First recorded in 1565–75; origin uncertain

OTHER WORDS FROM pink

pink·ness, noun

Words nearby pink

pinion, Piniós, pinite, pinitol, pin joint, pink, pink bollworm, pink champagne, pink coat, pink-collar, pink elephants

Other definitions for pink (2 of 3)

pink²

[ pingk ]

/ pɪŋk /

verb (used with object)

to pierce with a rapier or the like; stab.

to finish (fabric) at the edge with a scalloped, notched, or other pattern, as to prevent fraying or for ornament.

to punch (cloth, leather, etc.) with small holes or figures for ornament.

Chiefly British Dialect. to adorn or ornament, especially with scalloped edges or a punched-out pattern.

Origin of pink

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English pinge(n), pinken, pung(en) “to push (a door), batter, shove; prick, stab, pierce; punch holes in,” Old English pyngan “to prick,” possibly from Latin pungere “to prick, pierce”; cf. point, puncheon²

Other definitions for pink (3 of 3)

pink³

[ pingk ]

/ pɪŋk /

noun

a vessel with a pink stern.

Also pinky .

Compare pink stern.

Origin of pink

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English pynck(e), from Middle Dutch pinke “fishing boat”

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use pink in a sentence

A translucent plastic chair hangs from the ceiling, which is also pink and feathered.
How a TikTok house destroyed itself|Rebecca Jennings|October 1, 2020|Vox
Ari, the girls, and I are sitting at a wooden table that’s been hand-painted neon pink, in chairs wrapped in bubblegum marabou feathers.
How a TikTok house destroyed itself|Rebecca Jennings|October 1, 2020|Vox
Ideal for kids between 2-5, and available in a broad range of colors for all personalities, from lime green to bright pink to camo.
Kids’ bikes that make wonderful gifts|PopSci Commerce Team|October 1, 2020|Popular-Science
More than 6,000 pink-nosed merino sheep roam the 2,500 rolling acres that constitute Glenaan Station, a century-old farm two hours north of Christchurch.
Allbirds is stepping up for the planet—by treading lightly on it|sheilamarikar|September 21, 2020|Fortune

Here, everything is pink, everyone is happy, and, as it turns out, pretty much everything is fake.
The Museum of Ice Cream’s Not Only an Instagram Fantasy, It’s Also a Nightmare Workplace|Elazar Sontag|July 2, 2020|Eater
Twin girls, Greta and Grace, run around the floor in circles, wearing pink playsuits with tiny pink wings attached.
A Sunni-Shia Love Story Imperiled by al Qaeda|Ruth Michaelson|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She is smiling, a pink-striped hat on her head and a mini rainbow lollipop sticking out of her mouth.
Even Grade School Kids Are Protesting the Garner Killing Now|Caitlin Dickson|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A guy wearing pink appeared to be spotting her, but I was worried that he could have gotten impaled by those Stiletto heels.
Is Bigger Better for St. Vincent?|David Yaffe|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On social media, Madusa refers to her fans as pink warriors.
The Moms of Monster Jam Drive Trucks, Buck Macho Culture|Eliza Krigman|November 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Uber pridefully wears its evil reputation the way other on-demand ride-sharing services wear fuzzy pink mustaches.
The Ten Worst Uber Horror Stories|Olivia Nuzzi|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow color are the smallest.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
That poor, pretty creature, starving, in her charming pink dress and hat of roses.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
In fact, on the palm a small drop of blood showed distinctly against the firm, pink flesh.
Uncanny Tales|Various
"I am sorry," she replied instead, not saying a word about the poor little toes which the pretty pink lady had crushed.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson
Her eyes were not nearly as soft as they had been, while she picked up the hanging folds of pink cloth, and went on.
Rosemary in Search of a Father|C. N. Williamson

British Dictionary definitions for pink (1 of 3)

pink¹

/ (pɪŋk) /

noun

any of a group of colours with a reddish hue that are of low to moderate saturation and can usually reflect or transmit a large amount of light; a pale reddish tint

pink cloth or clothingdressed in pink

any of various Old World plants of the caryophyllaceous genus Dianthus, such as D. plumarius (garden pink), cultivated for their fragrant flowersSee also carnation (def. 1)

any of various plants of other genera, such as the moss pink

the flower of any of these plants

the highest or best degree, condition, etc (esp in the phrases in the pink of health, in the pink)

a huntsman's scarlet coat
a huntsman who wears a scarlet coat

adjective

of the colour pink

British informal left-wing

US derogatory

sympathetic to or influenced by Communism
leftist or radical, esp half-heartedly

informal of or relating to homosexuals or homosexualitythe pink vote

(of a huntsman's coat) scarlet or red

verb

(intr) another word for knock (def. 7)

Derived forms of pink

pinkish, adjectivepinkness, nounpinky, adjective

Word Origin for pink

C16 (the flower), C18 (the colour): perhaps a shortening of pinkeye

British Dictionary definitions for pink (2 of 3)

pink²

/ (pɪŋk) /

verb (tr)

to prick lightly with a sword or rapier

to decorate (leather, cloth, etc) with a perforated or punched pattern

to cut with pinking shears

Word Origin for pink

C14: perhaps of Low German origin; compare Low German pinken to peck

British Dictionary definitions for pink (3 of 3)

pink³

/ (pɪŋk) /

noun

a sailing vessel with a narrow overhanging transom

Word Origin for pink

C15: from Middle Dutch pinke, of obscure origin

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with pink

pink

see in the pink; tickled pink.

pink

Idioms about pink

Origin of pink

OTHER WORDS FROM pink

Words nearby pink

Other definitions for pink (2 of 3)

Origin of pink

Other definitions for pink (3 of 3)

Origin of pink

Words related to pink

How to use pink in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for pink (1 of 3)

Derived forms of pink

Word Origin for pink

British Dictionary definitions for pink (2 of 3)

Word Origin for pink

British Dictionary definitions for pink (3 of 3)

Word Origin for pink

Other Idioms and Phrases with pink