multicolourmulticolorn.adj.
/ˈmʌltɪˌkʌlə/, /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌlə/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈkələr/; see also multi- comb. form. A. n.
1. The condition of having or displaying many colours. Also figurative and concrete.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > [noun] > many colours
multicolour1842
polychromea1844
polychromatism1860
polychromism1903
multicolouredness1953
1842 E. A. Poe Landscape Garden in Ladies' Compan. Oct. 325/2 In the multiform of the tree, and in the multicolor of the flower.
1991 G. Greer Change xvii. 422 She imagined that the contemplative life of older people was a grisaille version of the multicolour of youth.
1991 N.Y. Times 2 May c11/2 Golden Plume was a rich deep yellow, Lady Olivia a blend of lavender and pink, and Irene a multi-color, with individual florets of yellow.
2. in multicolours (also multicolour): in many or various colours.
ΚΠ
1901 Daily Chron. 14 Dec. 8/4 Bars of applied silk done in multi-colours.
1927 Daily Mail 12 July 1 Matron's washing frock, made in Tussorette in a variety of designs and multi-colours.
1967 E. Short Embroidery & Fabric Collage i. 21 Conversely, most of the embroidery mentioned above is spoilt if worked in multi-colours.
1993 Canad. Geographic May 102 (advt.) Handwoven with soft comfortable cotton string, available in natural or multicolour.
B. adj.
= multicoloured adj.; (Printing) of, relating to, or designating a method or machine for printing in many colours, or a machine for such printing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > variegation > [adjective] > many colours
all-coloured1605
multicolorate1651
polychrome1819
polychromic1825
multicoloured1845
polychromatic1848
thousand-hued1852
polychromed1857
polychromous1880
multicolour1881
polychromatous1889
multiple-colour1899
multi1970
panchromatic1971
1881 Macmillan's Mag. Sept. 388 Hawkweed topped all the multi-colour weeds.
1881 Manufacturer & Builder Feb. 30/1 A multi-color printing press was exhibited at the late fair of the American Institute.
1888 C. T. Jacobi Printers' Vocab. 85 Multicolour letters.—Characters cut in separate pieces for working in two or more colours.
1935 Economist 11 May 1099/1 A new process of photogravure printing..enabled high-class multi-colour printing to be produced at newspaper speeds.
1947 Electronics Sept. 80/1 Specific applications of this storage tube include use in simultaneous multicolor and three-dimensional presentation of radar or sonar data.
1960 News Chron. 7 Sept. 8/3 Must be thoroughly conversant with all aspects of multi-colour printing.
1991 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Apr. 2 (advt.) Multi-color floral silk pareo skirt.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1842