umber

American  

[uhm-ber] / ˈʌm bər /

noun

1. an earth consisting chiefly of a hydrated oxide of iron and some oxide of manganese, used in its natural state as a brown pigment raw umber or, after heating, as a reddish-brown pigment burnt umber.

2. the color of such a pigment; dark dusky brown or dark reddish brown.

3. Ichthyology. the European grayling, Thymallus thymallus.

4. North England Dialect. shade; shadow.

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adjective

1. of the color umber.

verb (used with object)

1. to color with or as if with umber.

umber British  

/ ˈʌmbə /

noun

1. any of various natural brown earths containing ferric oxide together with lime and oxides of aluminium, manganese, and silicon See also burnt umber

2. any of the dark brown to greenish-brown colours produced by this pigment

3. short for umber moth

4. obsolete

   1. shade or shadow

   2. any dark, dusky, or indefinite colour

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or stained with umber

Etymology

Origin of umber

1250–1300; Middle English umbre, umber shade, shadow < Old French umbre < Latin umbra; in sense “earth” < French terre d'ombre or Italian terra di ombra

Explanation

Umber is a dark brown or reddish-brown pigment that is found in certain minerals. Ever since humans started creating art, they've been using umber. Pigments are the shades of color that painters and other artists use, and when they occur naturally, they're called earth pigments. Umber falls into this category — its rich, deep brown shade comes directly from minerals (raw umber) or from minerals heated to a darker shade (burnt umber). Today, oil painters still use umber when they need a fast-drying brown pigment. Umber gets its name from a region in Italy where it's common, Umbria.

Example Sentences

As sure as green leaves have turned red, gold and umber, the spooky season haunts us once more.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

The sun was just beginning its ascent over the Mojave, bathing the sand in a smooth umber glow beneath pockets of wispy cloud.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2023

And as early as 1617, when the teenage Velázquez painted a kitchen maid with umber skin and a white kerchief, Spain clearly had developed an art market for paintings depicting people of color.

From New York Times • Apr. 7, 2023

The appliques on one light silk umber gown were so heavy they structured the dress rather than vice-versa.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 7, 2023

She was tall—even taller than Koffi—and had a deep umber face made up of soft, rounded features: apple cheeks, a mouth curved like a warrior’s bow.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki