purple /pûrˈpl/

1. A mixture of blue and red
2. Crimson (historical)
3. The Tyrian crimson dye, obtained in ancient times from various shellfish (Murex, Purpura, Buccinum, etc) (historical)
4. Any shellfish from which the dye is obtained
5. A crimson cloth or garment worn in ancient times by kings and emperors (historical)
6. The rank, power or position of king or emperor
7. The red robe of a cardinal
8. The cardinalate (from the red hat and robes)
9. (with the) bishops
10. A purple pigment
11. A purple-red pigment in the rods of the mammalian eye and in parts of other eyes (visual purple)
12. A purple flower (see long-purples under long¹)
13. (in pl) purpura
14. (in pl) swine-fever
15. (in pl) ear-cockle (see under ear²)

1. Of the colour purple
2. Blood-red, bloody (historical)
3. Of writing, fine or over-ornate

To make purple

To become purple

purˈplish or purˈply adjective

Somewhat purple

purple airway noun

A reserved course for a royal flight

purˈple-born adjective

Born in the purple (qv below)

purˈple-coloured adjective

purple emperor noun

One of the largest of British butterflies and one of the most richly coloured (Apatura iris)

purple finch noun

An American finch, the male of which has a red head and breast

purple fish noun

A shellfish yielding purple dye

purple gallinule noun

A bird of the rail family (genus Porphyrio) with purplish plumage

purple heart noun

1. (the purple-coloured wood of) a species of Peltogyne of the family Caesalpiniaceae (also purple wood)
2. A mauve heart-shaped tablet of a stimulant drug of the amphetamine type
3. (with caps) a US decoration for wounds received on active service

purˈple-hued adjective

purˈple-in-grain adjective

Dyed fast in purple

purple of Cassius noun

A red or purple pigment discovered by Andreas Cassius (c.1683), made from stannous, stannic and gold chlorides in solution

purple patch noun

1. A passage of fine, or (often) over-ornate, writing (also purple passage)
2. A time of good luck or success

born in the purple

1. Born in the purple chamber of the Byzantine empresses (historical; see porphyrogenite)
2. Hence, of exalted birth

• forelift
• forelifted
• forelifting
• forelifts
• forelimb
• forelimbs
• forelock
• forelocks
• forels
• forelying
• foreman
• foremast
• foremastman
• foremastmen
• foremasts
• foremean
• foremeaning
• foremeans
• foremeant
• foremen
• forementioned
• foremost
• foremother
• foremothers
• forename