umber

[ uhm-ber ]

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.

adjective

1. of the color umber.

verb (used with object)

1. to color with or as if with umber.

umber

/ ˈʌmbə /

noun

1. See burnt umber
   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. See umber moth
   short for umber moth
4. obsolete.
   1. shade or shadow
   2. any dark, dusky, or indefinite colour

adjective

1. of, relating to, or stained with umber

Word History and Origins

Origin of umber¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of umber¹

C16: from French ( terre d' ) ombre or Italian ( terra di ) ombra shadow (earth), from Latin umbra shade

Example Sentences

It’s crisp but not too cold, the leaves recently changed from verdant green to shades of umber and crimson, and they’re gently falling all around you.

From Eater

The eggs number from four to six, and are of a grey colour, speckled with light umber-brown.

From Project Gutenberg

The eggs number two, dark olive-brown, or buffish-brown, spotted somewhat sparingly with blackish-brown and umber-brown.

From Project Gutenberg

The tapestries of the wall were umber and gold; the hangings of the bed and windows were a modulated purple.

From Project Gutenberg

Not now could the lure of his well-loved ocean appeal to him, for all the wonders of the umber and dull orange west.

From Project Gutenberg

Ground color of upperparts deep umber-brown, very finely and densely vermiculated; chest barred with bright tawny brown and black.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• beige
• brownish
• drab
• khaki