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Synonyms

polychrome

American  
[pol-ee-krohm] / ˈpɒl iˌkroʊm /

adjective

  1. being of many or various colors.

  2. decorated or executed in many colors, as a statue, vase, or mural.


verb (used with object)

polychromed, polychroming
  1. to paint in many or various colors.

noun

  1. a polychrome object or work.

polychrome British  
/ ˈpɒlɪˌkrəʊm /

adjective

  1. having various or changing colours; polychromatic

  2. made with or decorated in various colours

"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

noun

  1. a work of art or artefact in many colours

"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

Etymology

Origin of polychrome

1795–1805; earlier polychrom < German < Greek polýchrōmos many-colored. See poly-, -chrome

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.

See Examples For:

The mug was described in the auction catalogue as "a tin glazed commemorative mug with polychrome decoration depicting a bust length portrait of King Charles II, crowned and wearing armour and titled 'CD2 and 1660'".

From BBC Jan. 13, 2023

They did it in the nicest possible way, sending polychrome penny postcards eastward to their relatives and acquaintances in the deadest weeks of winter.

From Los Angeles Times Dec. 13, 2022

But complete confidence is unavailable to polychrome experts who extrapolate data from only a few surviving examples of painted artifacts.

From New York Times Aug. 17, 2022

It also has more than 290 prehistoric glyphs, or hieroglyphic symbols used to represent sounds or meanings, “making it the largest collection of indigenous people’s polychrome paintings in Missouri,” according to the auction website.

From Washington Post Sep. 14, 2021

The debris, rolling and flowing down the sides of the volcanic mountains, arching in great jets over the polychrome landscape, is more than enough to cover the impact craters.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

The Y, from 1930, by Dwight James Baum, who designed the building to look like an Italian hill town, with battlements and balconies and polychromed sculptures of evangelists.

From New York Times Sep. 16, 2020

“I consider his polychromed Popeye a current masterpiece,” Taschen said, “and could imagine sharing a room with it.”

From New York Times Apr. 21, 2015

"Basilica of Glory," austere on the outside but stuffed with plaster piety inside: battalions of pink and blue angels, scores of polychromed saints, gauze curtains and blue and beige carpets.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Cinderella question was whether the 26-in.-high polychromed bust of a young woman holding primroses was the handiwork of one of Italy's most famous Renaissance masters.

From Time Magazine Archive

Inside I found an extremely rich polychromed Renaissance "reredos," and there was also the somewhat remarkable tomb of "Claude Talon," kept in good order and repair.

From Vanished towers and chimes of Flanders by Edwards, George Wharton

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