colour
noun /ˈkʌlə(r)/
/ˈkʌlər/
(US English color)
Idioms - [countable, uncountable] the appearance that things have that results from the way in which they reflect light. Red, orange and green are colours.
- What's your favourite colour?
- bright/vibrant/bold colours
- She always wears dark colours.
- I'd like to paint this room in a lighter colour.
- a warm colour palette (= the range of colours used for something)
- available in 12 different colours
- the colour of the sky
- skin/hair colour
- in colour red/green/blue, etc. in colour
- Her hair is a reddish-brown colour.
- The stage lights changed colour from red to blue.
- Foods which go through a factory process lose much of their colour, flavour and texture.
Synonyms colourcolour- shade
- hue
- tint
- tinge
- colour the appearance that things have, resulting from the way in which they reflect light. Red, green and blue are colours:
- What’s your favourite colour?
- bright/dark/light colours
- shade a particular form of a colour, especially when describing how light or dark it is. Sky blue is a shade of blue:
- Her eyes were a delicate shade of green.
- hue (literary or technical) a colour or a particular shade of a colour:
- His face took on an unhealthy, whitish hue.
- tint a shade or small amount of a particular colour; a faint colour covering a surface:
- leaves with red and gold autumn tints
- tinge a small amount of a colour:
- There was a pink tinge to the sky.
- a warm/rich colour/shade/hue/tint
- a bright/vivid/vibrant/dark/deep colour/shade/hue
- a pale/pastel/soft/subtle/delicate colour/shade/hue
- a light/strong/neutral/natural colour/shade
Extra ExamplesTopics Colours and Shapesa1- Dark colours suit you best.
- Green is a good colour on you.
- I like to wear bright colours.
- Simple patterns and solid colours are particularly effective.
- The chameleon changes colour to match its surroundings.
- The curtains went a strange orange colour when we washed them.
- The flowers are pale blue in colour.
- The garden is a riot of colour in spring.
- The leaf colour ranges from dark green to almost brown.
- The scarf is available in six different colours.
- What is her natural hair colour?
- Your shirt matches the colour of your eyes.
- cool colours like blue and gray
- the intense colour of new leaves
- The garden was a mass of colour.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bold
- bright
- brilliant
- …
- dash
- flash
- splash
- …
- change
- add
- match
- …
- match (something)
- clash
- fade
- …
- combination
- range
- scheme
- …
- in colour
- in a colour
- a combination of colours
- a range of colours
- [uncountable] (usually before another noun) the use of all the colours, not only black and white
- the introduction of colour television in the UK in 1967
- colour photographs
- a colour printer
- a full-colour brochure
- in colour Do you dream in colour?
Extra Examples- a colour TV in every room
- a 48-page reference section in full colour
- a 24-page full-colour booklet
- The book is lavishly illustrated in full colour.
- Is the film in colour or black and white?
- colour photography/printing
- [uncountable, countable] the colour of a person’s skin, when it shows the race they belong to
- Discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or colour was outlawed.
- of colour (especially North American English) a person/man/woman of colour (= who is not white)
- people of all ages, genders, creeds and colours
Extra ExamplesTopics People in societya2- to discriminate on the basis of colour
- people of colour
Oxford Collocations Dictionarycolour/color + noun- bar
- barrier
- of colour
- on the basis of colour
- on (the) grounds of colour
- [uncountable] a red or pink colour in somebody’s face, especially when it shows that they look healthy or that they are embarrassed
- The fresh air brought colour to their cheeks.
- Colour flooded her face when she thought of what had happened.
- His face was drained of colour (= he looked pale and ill).
Extra Examples- Gradually the colour returned to his cheeks.
- His face drained of all colour.
- I could feel the colour rush to my cheeks.
- The colour drained from her face when she saw him.
- The colour rose in his face.
- The walk brought colour to her face.
- You could tell she was excited by the heightened colour in her cheeks.
- You have a bit more colour in your cheeks now.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- heightened
- high
- faint
- …
- have
- bring
- be drained of
- …
- flood something
- rise
- rush
- …
- [countable, uncountable] a substance that is used to give colour to something
- a semi-permanent hair colour that lasts six to eight washes
- This colour runs, so wash the shirt separately.
- [uncountable] interesting and exciting details or qualities
- The old town is full of colour and attractions.
- Her acting added warmth and colour to the production.
- to add/give/lend colour to something (= make it brighter, more interesting, etc.)
Extra Examples- These flowers certainly give the room a bit of colour.
- His asides lent colour to the story.
- The silk cushions add colour to an otherwise dull room.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- local
- add
- give something
- lend
- …
- full of colour
- colours[plural] the particular colours that are used on clothes, flags, etc. to represent a team, school, political party or country
- Red and white are the team colours.
- Spain’s national colours
- (figurative) There are people of different political colours on the committee.
- colours[plural] (especially British English) a flag, badge, etc. that represents a team, country, ship, etc.
- Most buildings had a flagpole with the national colours flying.
- sailing under the French colours
red, green, etc.
of skin
of face
substance
interesting details
of team/country, etc.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French colour (noun), colourer (verb), from Latin color (noun), colorare (verb).
Idioms
lend colour to something
- (British English, formal) to make something seem true or likely
- Most of the available evidence lends colour to this view.
nail your colours to the mast
- (especially British English) to say publicly and clearly what you believe or who you support
see the colour of somebody’s money
- (informal) to make sure that somebody has enough money to pay for something
- You need to see the colour of his money before you sell him the car.
your true colours
- (often disapproving) your real character, rather than the one that you usually allow other people to see
- It was only after they got married that he showed himself in his true colours.
with flying colours
- very well; with a very high mark
- She passed the exam with flying colours.