scarlet
Americannoun
-
a bright-red color inclining toward orange.
-
cloth or clothing of this color.
adjective
-
of the color scarlet.
-
flagrantly offensive.
Their sins were scarlet.
noun
-
a vivid red colour, sometimes with an orange tinge
-
cloth or clothing of this colour
adjective
-
of the colour scarlet
-
sinful or immoral, esp unchaste
Etymology
Origin of scarlet
1200–50; Middle English < Old French escarlate < Medieval Latin scarlata, scarletum, perhaps < Arabic saqirlāṭ, siqillāṭ < Medieval Greek sigillátos < Latin sigillātus decorated with patterns in relief; sigillate
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.
But Ana-Maria is no imperious popular princess—she’s nice to Lucia, responding with youthful awe when Lucia shyly shows her the scarlet lipstick that she got from her aunt in Paris.
This region shelters not only migratory songbirds but also jaguars, tapirs, and scarlet macaws.
From Science Daily
Fans on X mentioned similarities between the Grammy-winning artist's tours, with one posting: "No shade the Vie tour just gives scarlet with different outfits."
From BBC
Sparkling scarlet wires are wrapped tightly around me, restricting any movement.
From Literature
The boys’ faces and hands were scarlet with paprika.
From Literature
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.
