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.

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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

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noun

1. a work of art or artefact in many colours

Etymology

Origin of polychrome

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

Example Sentences

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

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

From Seattle Times • Sep. 14, 2021

For years I worked across Sixth Avenue in the Time-Life Building and I never noticed Hildreth Meière’s polychrome roundels on the music hall’s south wall, representing Dance, Drama and Song.

From New York Times • Apr. 15, 2020

Some pickers hit 15 to 20 stops in a day, often clashing with competing pickers scrambling to uncover that polychrome painted shade or wrought iron plant stand.

From Washington Post • Jul. 9, 2019

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