colouring
/ˈkʌlərɪŋ
/(US coloring)
noun [mass noun]
1The process of changing the colour of something by painting, dyeing, or shading it: the salon concentrates purely on colouring...
- After her last coloring, she had developed a rash over much of her body, caused by an allergic reaction to the commercial hair color she had been using.
- The method of colouring has changed and now colour is applied in many varying methods and techniques.
- So you thought colouring was as easy as buying a favourite colour and applying it with a brush.
1.1The filling in of a shape or outline with colour: [as modifier]: a colouring book...
- After he had given out the prizes all the children in the shop were given red balloons and some colouring books.
- The story, activity and colouring books stand out in the crowd.
- And for younger supporters, don't forget to return your colouring competitions on or before February 6.
2Appearance with regard to colour: the toad’s colouring blended perfectly with its surroundings...
- In the days when people had to struggle to live, chopsticks were dull in colouring and appearance.
- They can rapidly alter their vivid coloring to blend into the background.
- Scamp has no identification collar but has tan and white colouring.
2.1The natural hues of a person’s skin, hair, and eyes: her fair colouring...
- Colour analysis will help you select shades that complement your natural colouring.
- Her first task was to find out which colours best suited Jane, so she could pick make-up and clothes that enhanced her natural colouring.
- The white shirt and black pants suited her well, going with the sandy brown hair and her healthy coloring.
2.2The pervading character or tone of something: her performance was strong on dramatic colouring...
- Her voice has, as yet, neither the maturity nor flexibility of other singers but her performance was strong on dramatic colouring and purity of tone.
- We saw that with the influx of Catholic Irish and Germans to the northern states, politics began to assume a more ethnic colouring.
- He believes innovative ideas do not need political colouring.
3Matter used to give a particular colour to something, especially food: food colouring [count noun]: paint the eggs using edible food colourings...
- Soil Association standards prohibit the use of food additives and artificial colourings that may be damaging to health, and the use of genetically modified ingredients is not allowed under European organic law.
- Some parents believe that certain dietary substances and, in particular, certain artificial food colourings are responsible for their child's behaviour.
- They are also all made without genetically modified ingredients, hydrogenated oils, artificial flavourings, colourings or preservatives.