Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱel-
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *-ōs
Proto-Indo-European *ḱélōs
Proto-Italic *kelōs
Old Latin colōs
Latin color
Old French color
Anglo-Norman colurbor.
Middle English colour
English color
From Middle English colour, color, borrowed from Anglo-Norman colur, from Old French colour, color, from Latin color. Doublet of couleur.
Largely displaced English blee, Middle English blee (“color”), from Old English blēo. Also partially replaced Old English hīew (“color”) and its descendants (English hue), which is less often used in this sense.
The spelling color was popularized in modern American English by Noah Webster, to match the spelling of the word's Latin etymon, and make all American spellings of the derivatives consistent (colorimeter, coloration, colorize, colorless, etc).
Meanings
(US, not-comparable) Conveying color, as opposed to shades of gray.
Color television and movies were considered a great improvement over black and white.
I took my TV over on the first trip. I got a beauty. It's four years old, color, but when I had a little snow and asked the repairman to come in, he told me never, never turn this set in for a new one. 1977, John Cheever, Falconer (A Borzoi Book), New York, N.Y.: Alfred A[braham] Knopf, →ISBN, page 209:
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
usage notes
alternative
lexicographic
colour
Commonwealth, Ireland, alternative
lexicographic
Translations (18)
ru цветно́й (conveying color) · el έγχρωμος (conveying color) · he צבעונית (conveying color) · fi väri- (conveying color) · hu színes (conveying color) · ja カラーの (conveying color) · ko 띤 (conveying color) · pt de cor (conveying color) · zh 彩色 (conveying color) · fr en couleur (conveying color) · da farve- (conveying color) · pl kolorowy (conveying color) · bg цветен (conveying color) · es en color (conveying color) · sv färg- (conveying color) · el χρωματικός (conveying color) · fi värillinen (conveying color) · he צבעוני (conveying color)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱel-
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *-ōs
Proto-Indo-European *ḱélōs
Proto-Italic *kelōs
Old Latin colōs
Latin color
Old French color
Anglo-Norman colurbor.
Middle English colour
English color
From Middle English colour, color, borrowed from Anglo-Norman colur, from Old French colour, color, from Latin color. Doublet of couleur.
Largely displaced English blee, Middle English blee (“color”), from Old English blēo. Also partially replaced Old English hīew (“color”) and its descendants (English hue), which is less often used in this sense.
The spelling color was popularized in modern American English by Noah Webster, to match the spelling of the word's Latin etymon, and make all American spellings of the derivatives consistent (colorimeter, coloration, colorize, colorless, etc).
Meanings
(uncountable) The spectral composition of visible light.
Humans and birds can perceive color.
(countable) A subset thereof: ▸ A particular set of visible spectral compositions, perceived or named as a class.
Here, in the transept and choir, where the service was being held, one was conscious every moment of an increasing brightness; colours glowing vividly beneath the circular chandeliers, and the rows of small lights on the choristers' desks flashed and sparkled in front of the boys' faces, deep linen collars, and red neckbands. 1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter V, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:
Most languages have names for the colors black, white, red, and green.
We should paint the wall another color.
What color are your bf's eyes?
(uncountable) A subset thereof: ▸ Hue as opposed to achromatic colors (black, white and grays).
The accident victim's face was white, drained of all color.
(countable, uncountable) A subset thereof: ▸ These hues as used in color television or films, color photographs, etc (as opposed to the shades of grey used in black-and-white television).
Most people dream in color, but some dream in black and white.
This film is broadcast in color.
(countable, uncountable) A subset thereof: ▸ Any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms, including azure, gules, sable, and vert.
(countable, uncountable) A paint.
The artist took out her colors and began work on a landscape.
(uncountable) Human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity.
Color has been a sensitive issue in many societies.
(countable, uncountable) Skin color, noted as normal, jaundiced, cyanotic, flush, mottled, pale, or ashen as part of the skin signs assessment.
(countable, uncountable) A flushed appearance of blood in the face; redness of complexion.
[…] her very embarrassment wore a graceful air; her high colour had softened down to a warm, delicate tint; and her dress, which looked beautifully new and fresh, was in good taste, and showed her off to advantage. 1864, Sir Henry Stewart Cunningham, Late Laurels, volumes 1-2, page 117:
(countable, figuratively, uncountable) Richness of expression; detail or flavour that is likely to generate interest or enjoyment.
color commentator
There is a great deal of colour in his writing.
Whenever Marx himself went into detail, he certainly did not push his hypothesis to such an absurd extreme. He did, however, coin some formulas that gave colour to this simplistic interpretation. 1978 [1976], Leszek Kołakowski, translated by P[aul] S[teven] Falla, Main Currents of Marxism, volume I: The Founders, Oxford: Clarendon Press, translation of Główne nurty marksizmu: powstanie (in Polish), →ISBN, →OCLC, page 370:
Three chairs of the steamer type, all maimed, comprised the furniture of this roof-garden, with (by way of local color) on one of the copings a row of four red clay flower-pots filled with sun-baked dust […] 1914 November, Louis Joseph Vance, “An Outsider […]”, in Munsey’s Magazine, volume LIII, number II, New York, N.Y.: The Frank A[ndrew] Munsey Company, […], published 1915, →OCLC, chapter I (Anarchy), page 377, column 2:
a bit of local color
Could you give me some color with regards to which products made up the mix of revenue for this quarter?
color commentary
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) A standard, flag, or insignia: ▸ A standard or banner.
The loss of their colors destroyed the regiment's morale.
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) A standard, flag, or insignia: ▸ The flag of a nation or team.
The colors were raised over the new territory.
The arrival of the British Consul at Bangkok shall not take place before the ratification of this Treaty, nor until ten vessels owned by British subjects, sailing under British colours and with British papers, shall have entered the port of Bangkok for purposes of trade, subsequent to the signing of this Treaty. 1856, “Treaty signed April 18, 1855; ratified April 5, 1856”, in Treaty of friendship and commerce between Great Britain and Siam, Bangkok: J. H. Chandler, page 7:
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) A standard, flag, or insignia: ▸ Gang insignia.
Both of the perpetrators were wearing colors.
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) An award for sporting achievement, particularly within a school or university.
He was awarded colors for his football.
(countable, in-plural, uncountable) The morning ceremony of raising the flag.
(countable, uncountable) A property of quarks, with three values called red, green, and blue, which they can exchange by passing gluons; color charge.
(uncountable) A third-order measure of derivative price sensitivity, expressed as the rate of change of gamma with respect to time, or equivalently the rate of change of charm with respect to changes in the underlying asset price.
(countable, uncountable) The relative lightness or darkness of a mass of written or printed text on a page. (See type color on Wikipedia.Wikipedia )
(countable, uncountable) Any of the colored balls excluding the reds.
(countable, uncountable) A front or facade; an ostensible truth actually false; pretext.
At the far end of the continuum, Roger Seagraves collected personal items from people he'd murdered, or assassinated rather, since he'd done it under the color of serving his country. 2011, David Baldacci, The Collectors:
(countable, uncountable) An appearance of right or authority; color of law.
Under color of law, he managed to bilk taxpayers of millions of dollars.
They held possession under color of title.
no such action, suit, or any other process or proceeding thereupon shall at any time be impeached, stayed, or delayed by or under colour or pretence of any privilege of Parliament. 1770, “Parliamentary Privilege Act 1770”, in legislation.gov.uk:
The only thing which this defendant is accused of doing is that he excluded this boy from the school, and he did it under the color of the statute relating to the subject, and did it because he was a colored boy. 1882, The Ohio Law Journal, volume 2, page 396:
(countable, uncountable) Gold, particles of gold found when prospecting.
He smelted Wells’s colour before it was valued, and by the time anybody saw it, it had been poured into bars and stamped with the Reserve seal. 2013, Eleanor Catton, The Luminaries, London: Granta, published 2014, →ISBN, page 184:
(countable, slang, uncountable) To bleed, either through injury or blading. Usually prefaced with "get".
The local hero is getting color in tonight's spectacle.
(countable, uncountable) Timbre, often in relation to orchestration.
In other words, Brahms saves the higher violin color for the more important foreground statement and assigns the soft swirling background to middle-register violins and violas, while the cellos dominate in their best voice. 1982, Samuel Adler, The Study of Orchestration, New York: W. W. Norton & Company, published 1982, →ISBN, page 115:
(countable, uncountable) The quality of a particular vowel sound.
fi väri (particular set of the visible spectrum) · syl ꠞꠋ (spectral composition of visible light) · ln lángi (spectral composition of visible light) · nap culore (spectral composition of visible light) · tr renk (spectral composition of visible light) · pl odcień (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · pt cor (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ca color (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ckb ڕەنگ (particular set of the visible spectrum) · mg loko (spectral composition of visible light) · bkd babelek (spectral composition of visible light) · ba төҫ (spectral composition of visible light) · aii ܓܲܘܢܵܐ (spectral composition of visible light) · vi màu sắc (spectral composition of visible light) · rup rengã (spectral composition of visible light) · he צֶבַע (spectral composition of visible light) · be фа́рба (spectral composition of visible light) · mg volo (spectral composition of visible light) · mnc ᠪᠣᠴᠣ (spectral composition of visible light) · fi ihonväri (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · az rəng (particular set of the visible spectrum) · sat ᱵᱳᱨᱳᱱ (spectral composition of visible light) · be хва́рба (spectral composition of visible light) · et toon (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · ar لون (spectral composition of visible light) · la color (spectral composition of visible light) · ru фини́фть (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · ab аԥштәы (spectral composition of visible light) · fa گون (spectral composition of visible light) · pt cor (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · cs barva (particular set of the visible spectrum) · grc χρῶμα (spectral composition of visible light) · sw michezo (spectral composition of visible light) · kk реңк (spectral composition of visible light) · fi lippu (standard or banner (colors)) · ltg kruosa (spectral composition of visible light) · fa رَنْگ (particular set of the visible spectrum) · bg колори́т (interest, especially in a selective area) · da farve (spectral composition of visible light) · lld color (spectral composition of visible light) · ar رنق (spectral composition of visible light) · am ቀለም (spectral composition of visible light) · zh 顏色 /颜色 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ase 5@Chin-PalmBack Wiggle (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · ta நிறம் (spectral composition of visible light) · nb farge (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ur رَن٘گ (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 色 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · bo ཁ་དོག (spectral composition of visible light) · uk ко́лір (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · acx رنج (spectral composition of visible light) · pl barwa (spectral composition of visible light) · ms rona (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · de Flagge (standard or banner (colors)) · pt cor (spectral composition of visible light) · fy kleur (spectral composition of visible light) · bg зна́ме (standard or banner (colors)) · sv färg (particular set of the visible spectrum) · nl kleur (interest, especially in a selective area) · crh renk (spectral composition of visible light) · pal 𐭫𐭭𐭢 (spectral composition of visible light) · ca color (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · lo ສີ (spectral composition of visible light) · fi väri (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · nrf couoleu (spectral composition of visible light) · cop ⲁⲃⲁⲛ (spectral composition of visible light) · cv тӗс (spectral composition of visible light) · lb Faarf (particular set of the visible spectrum) · vo köl (spectral composition of visible light) · lij cô (spectral composition of visible light) · bi kala (spectral composition of visible light) · pa رَنْگ (spectral composition of visible light) · fi heraldinen väri (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · fa رَنْگ (spectral composition of visible light) · hu szín (spectral composition of visible light) · be ко́лер (particular set of the visible spectrum) · pl kolor (spectral composition of visible light) · ar لون (spectral composition of visible light) · ase 5@Chin-PalmBack Wiggle (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ja 肌の色 (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ms warna (spectral composition of visible light) · nb fargetone (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · kok बण्ण (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 色彩 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · pl barwy (standard or banner (colors)) · nl kleur (standard or banner (colors)) · sh бо̀ја (spectral composition of visible light) · dta jusu (spectral composition of visible light) · dsb barwa (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ro culoare (particular set of the visible spectrum) · uz rang (spectral composition of visible light) · ang blēo (particular set of the visible spectrum) · gd dath (spectral composition of visible light) · ko 피부색 (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · mdh warna (spectral composition of visible light) · gl cor (spectral composition of visible light) · ms rona (particular set of the visible spectrum) · inh бос (spectral composition of visible light) · hy գույն (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · bg цвят (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · xal өңг (spectral composition of visible light) · hy գույն (particular set of the visible spectrum) · om halluu (spectral composition of visible light) · mr रंग (spectral composition of visible light) · is litur (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · mhr тӱс (spectral composition of visible light) · bn রং (spectral composition of visible light) · lld corú (spectral composition of visible light) · pa ਰੰਗ (spectral composition of visible light) · rm colur (spectral composition of visible light) · cjy 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · qu llimphi (spectral composition of visible light) · mt kulur (spectral composition of visible light) · fr couleur (particular set of the visible spectrum) · fur colôr (spectral composition of visible light) · af velkleur (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · mnp 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · zh 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · ba төҫ (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ml നിറം (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ms warna kulit (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · el απόχρωση (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · wuu 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · ss bâla (spectral composition of visible light) · ext colol (spectral composition of visible light) · vo logodakölül (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ota بویا (particular set of the visible spectrum) · de Hautfarbe (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ru штанда́рт (standard or banner (colors)) · krc бояу (spectral composition of visible light) · nb koloritt (interest, especially in a selective area) · ja 色 (interest, especially in a selective area) · de Farbton (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · hy գույն (spectral composition of visible light) · et nahavärv (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ota رنگ (particular set of the visible spectrum) · bua үнгэ (spectral composition of visible light) · bo ཚོན་མདོག (spectral composition of visible light) · sc cabori (spectral composition of visible light) · pam diua (spectral composition of visible light) · yi קאָליר (spectral composition of visible light) · zh 色 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · hu szín (particular set of the visible spectrum) · chr ᏗᎧᏃᏗ (spectral composition of visible light) · stq Faawe (spectral composition of visible light) · be ко́лер (spectral composition of visible light) · pl barwa (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · hak 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · mdf тюс (spectral composition of visible light) · it stendardo (standard or banner (colors)) · ht koulè (particular set of the visible spectrum) · pox farb’ă (spectral composition of visible light) · fi väri (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · nb fane (standard or banner (colors)) · ru цвет (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ru ко́лер (spectral composition of visible light) · kmr reng (spectral composition of visible light) · sms eu´nn (spectral composition of visible light) · ru насы́щенность (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · kk рең (spectral composition of visible light) · cy lliw (spectral composition of visible light) · krc бет (spectral composition of visible light) · haw hulu (spectral composition of visible light) · te రంగు (spectral composition of visible light) · tl kulay (standard or banner (colors)) · fi väri (spectral composition of visible light) · hi रंग (particular set of the visible spectrum) · mnp 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · sc colore (spectral composition of visible light) · bh रंग (spectral composition of visible light) · jv warni (spectral composition of visible light) · fa رَنْگ (spectral composition of visible light) · ceb kolor (spectral composition of visible light) · de Fahne (standard or banner (colors)) · af kleur (standard or banner (colors)) · mn ᠪᠤᠳᠤᠭ (spectral composition of visible light) · pl krasa (spectral composition of visible light) · pl kolor skóry (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · mi kara (spectral composition of visible light) · ru цвет (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · nn farge (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · myv тюс (spectral composition of visible light) · nrf couleu (spectral composition of visible light) · hak 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · nds farv (spectral composition of visible light) · az rəng (spectral composition of visible light) · grc χρώς (spectral composition of visible light) · sv färg (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · el χρώμα (interest, especially in a selective area) · ms rona (spectral composition of visible light) · el χρώμα (particular set of the visible spectrum) · csb farwa (spectral composition of visible light) · ota بویا (spectral composition of visible light) · cdo 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · yue 顏色 /颜色 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ml വർണ്ണരാജി (spectral composition of visible light) · cop ⲁⲟⲩⲁⲛ (spectral composition of visible light) · mrw warna (spectral composition of visible light) · nb farge (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · ha launi (spectral composition of visible light) · yi פֿאַרב (spectral composition of visible light) · cs barva (spectral composition of visible light) · szl farba (spectral composition of visible light) · et värv (spectral composition of visible light) · ga dath (spectral composition of visible light) · hsb barba (particular set of the visible spectrum) · pt cor (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · niv вал (spectral composition of visible light) · sm lanu (spectral composition of visible light) · kaw warṇṇa (spectral composition of visible light) · rm calour (spectral composition of visible light) · it bandiera (standard or banner (colors)) · egy i-wn:n-D3 (particular set of the visible spectrum) · vi màu (particular set of the visible spectrum) · uk ба́рви (standard or banner (colors)) · kjh ӧң (spectral composition of visible light) · fr couleur (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · sq larë (spectral composition of visible light) · to lanu (spectral composition of visible light) · lou koulær (particular set of the visible spectrum) · kum ренк (spectral composition of visible light) · lld curú (spectral composition of visible light) · da hudfarve (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · so midab (spectral composition of visible light) · lmw hínah (spectral composition of visible light) · ar ألوانات (spectral composition of visible light) · eo koloro (spectral composition of visible light) · bn বর্ণ (spectral composition of visible light) · uli ddoel (particular set of the visible spectrum) · dsb barwa (spectral composition of visible light) · oc color (spectral composition of visible light) · ne रङ्ग (spectral composition of visible light) · lt spalva (spectral composition of visible light) · ba төҫ (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · hsb barba (spectral composition of visible light) · de Farbe (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ota الوان (spectral composition of visible light) · ty huru (spectral composition of visible light) · myv чачо (spectral composition of visible light) · da kulør (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · nl kleur (spectral composition of visible light) · lez ранг (spectral composition of visible light) · ru цвет (spectral composition of visible light) · nrf couleur (spectral composition of visible light) · ckt пэран (spectral composition of visible light) · km ពណ៌ (spectral composition of visible light) · el χρώματα (standard or banner (colors)) · izh kuva (spectral composition of visible light) · haw waihoʻoluʻu (spectral composition of visible light) · sah өҥ (spectral composition of visible light) · pl koloryt (interest, especially in a selective area) · he צֶבַע (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ms warna (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · cop ⲁⲩⲁⲛ (spectral composition of visible light) · lld culòur (spectral composition of visible light) · ty pēni (spectral composition of visible light) · uk кольори́ (standard or banner (colors)) · arc ܓܘܢܐ (spectral composition of visible light) · nn koloritt (interest, especially in a selective area) · zh янсый (spectral composition of visible light) · izh karva (spectral composition of visible light) · ar لون (spectral composition of visible light) · kn ಬಣ್ಣ (spectral composition of visible light) · tg ранг (spectral composition of visible light) · mfe kouler (spectral composition of visible light) · nn farge (interest, especially in a selective area) · zh 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · crh tüs (spectral composition of visible light) · rue фа́рба (spectral composition of visible light) · ro culoare (spectral composition of visible light) · nn farge (spectral composition of visible light) · ko 색깔 (spectral composition of visible light) · zh 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · mww xim (particular set of the visible spectrum) · udm буёл (spectral composition of visible light) · sh фа̑рба (spectral composition of visible light) · nb farge (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · fa گُون (spectral composition of visible light) · ttt rang (spectral composition of visible light) · es color (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · nb farge (spectral composition of visible light) · bn রঙ (spectral composition of visible light) · mi kano (spectral composition of visible light) · sw rangi (spectral composition of visible light) · rm culur (spectral composition of visible light) · alt ӧҥ (spectral composition of visible light) · za saek (spectral composition of visible light) · lou koulè (particular set of the visible spectrum) · yue 色 (spectral composition of visible light) · cdo 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · ro culoare de piele (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · pl barwa (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ota لون (particular set of the visible spectrum) · an color (spectral composition of visible light) · nb hudfarge (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · mi mura (spectral composition of visible light) · lb Fuarf (spectral composition of visible light) · ug رەڭ (spectral composition of visible light) · sv färg (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · nn farge (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · wuu 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · tr ıl (spectral composition of visible light) · ay sami (spectral composition of visible light) · cs barva (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · io koloro (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 色 (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · hu bőrszín (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · uk ба́рва (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · de Tinktur (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · ang hīew (spectral composition of visible light) · vi Vietnamese: sắc (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ota لون (spectral composition of visible light) · lld culëur (spectral composition of visible light) · jra mâo (spectral composition of visible light) · af kleur (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · lld culour (spectral composition of visible light) · ht koulè (spectral composition of visible light) · tyv өң (spectral composition of visible light) · ky түс (spectral composition of visible light) · tpi kala (spectral composition of visible light) · da farvetone (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · kum тюс (spectral composition of visible light) · uk ба́рва (spectral composition of visible light) · sh fȃrba (spectral composition of visible light) · yai ранг (spectral composition of visible light) · de Farbe (spectral composition of visible light) · af kleur (spectral composition of visible light) · ps رنګ (spectral composition of visible light) · pam kule (spectral composition of visible light) · bo ཚོས་གཞི (spectral composition of visible light) · mn өнгө (spectral composition of visible light) · ka ფერი (spectral composition of visible light) · tk reňk (spectral composition of visible light) · hrx Forreb (spectral composition of visible light) · ota رنگ (spectral composition of visible light) · vo täin (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · pt cores (standard or banner (colors)) · ta வண்ணம் (spectral composition of visible light) · kl qalipaat (particular set of the visible spectrum) · kl qalipaat (spectral composition of visible light) · nb farge (interest, especially in a selective area) · ang hīew (particular set of the visible spectrum) · wym förf (spectral composition of visible light) · nb kulør (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · cjs ӧң (spectral composition of visible light) · mk бо́ја (spectral composition of visible light) · fi paikallisväri (interest, especially in a selective area) · rsk фарба (spectral composition of visible light) · ltg nūdora (spectral composition of visible light) · sq ngjyrë (spectral composition of visible light) · is litur (particular set of the visible spectrum) · my အရောင် (spectral composition of visible light) · nl kleur (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · uk ко́лір (spectral composition of visible light) · pwn quljaw (spectral composition of visible light) · uk ко́лір (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · el χρώμα (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · nl kleur (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · hi रंग (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 幟 (standard or banner (colors)) · ko 색 (spectral composition of visible light) · lv krāsa (spectral composition of visible light) · ltg spolva (spectral composition of visible light) · zza reng (diq) (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 業績 (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · ast color (spectral composition of visible light) · es color (particular set of the visible spectrum) · et värv (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ru цвет ко́жи (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · nn kulør (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · el χρώμα (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · as বৰণ (spectral composition of visible light) · nds klöör (spectral composition of visible light) · ms warna (particular set of the visible spectrum) · mn ᠥᠩᠭᠡ (spectral composition of visible light) · pl kolor (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · lb Fuarf (particular set of the visible spectrum) · uk ко́лір шкі́ри (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ca color (spectral composition of visible light) · nl kleur (particular set of the visible spectrum) · sv färg (spectral composition of visible light) · ja 色彩 (spectral composition of visible light) · es color (spectral composition of visible light) · ru зна́мя (standard or banner (colors)) · bn রঙিন (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · ar لون (spectral composition of visible light) · sl barva (spectral composition of visible light) · ga dath (particular set of the visible spectrum) · af kleur (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · et lipp (standard or banner (colors)) · vi màu da (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · pl kolor (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ky өң (spectral composition of visible light) · nn hudfarge (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · yka ulanna' (spectral composition of visible light) · te వర్ణము (spectral composition of visible light) · el χρώμα (spectral composition of visible light) · as ৰং (spectral composition of visible light) · jv rupa (spectral composition of visible light) · uk фа́рба (spectral composition of visible light) · da farve (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · mi tae (spectral composition of visible light) · cs vlajka (standard or banner (colors)) · ar لَوْن (particular set of the visible spectrum) · bg цвят (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · ca color (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · rup boie (spectral composition of visible light) · lb Faarf (spectral composition of visible light) · fi värit (standard or banner (colors)) · sc colori (spectral composition of visible light) · sm lanu (particular set of the visible spectrum) · os хуыз (spectral composition of visible light) · scn culuri (spectral composition of visible light) · vo köl (particular set of the visible spectrum) · th สี (spectral composition of visible light) · fo litur (spectral composition of visible light) · haw ʻano (spectral composition of visible light) · pt cor (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · bg цвят (spectral composition of visible light) · bn বর্ণ (human skin tone, especially as an indicator of race or ethnicity) · ckb ڕەنگ (spectral composition of visible light) · ms panji-panji (standard or banner (colors)) · id pataka (standard or banner (colors)) · da farve (particular set of the visible spectrum) · pro color (spectral composition of visible light) · cu шаръ (spectral composition of visible light) · da farve (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · hu lobogó (standard or banner (colors)) · kum бояв (spectral composition of visible light) · gl color (spectral composition of visible light) · gld бойко (spectral composition of visible light) · sk farba (spectral composition of visible light) · es color (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · shu لون (spectral composition of visible light) · be ба́рва (spectral composition of visible light) · it colore (spectral composition of visible light) · uk ко́лір (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ota فام (spectral composition of visible light) · sa रङ्ग (spectral composition of visible light) · dtp warana (spectral composition of visible light) · ce бос (spectral composition of visible light) · ca color (standard or banner (colors)) · uz tus (spectral composition of visible light) · tr tüs (spectral composition of visible light) · vec cołor (spectral composition of visible light) · kg langi (spectral composition of visible light) · kw liw (spectral composition of visible light) · nds klöör (particular set of the visible spectrum) · non litr (spectral composition of visible light) · et värvus (spectral composition of visible light) · nog туьс (spectral composition of visible light) · aqc ранг (spectral composition of visible light) · yue 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · ru колори́т (interest, especially in a selective area) · cs odstín (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · mt lewn (spectral composition of visible light) · ar لَوْن (spectral composition of visible light) · sc caori (spectral composition of visible light) · ka ფერი (particular set of the visible spectrum) · sh bòja (spectral composition of visible light) · id warna (spectral composition of visible light) · mn будаг (spectral composition of visible light) · ota الوان (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ar ألوان (spectral composition of visible light) · cic kala' (spectral composition of visible light) · ru флаг (standard or banner (colors)) · gug sa'y (spectral composition of visible light) · kk түс (spectral composition of visible light) · ang blēo (spectral composition of visible light) · af kleur (particular set of the visible spectrum) · eu kolore (spectral composition of visible light) · or ରଙ୍ଗ (spectral composition of visible light) · cs barva (any of the standard dark tinctures used in a coat of arms) · gv daah (spectral composition of visible light) · nds Farv (spectral composition of visible light) · tly ranq (spectral composition of visible light) · rm calur (spectral composition of visible light) · zh 顏色 /颜色 (spectral composition of visible light) · nl kleur (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · nn fane (standard or banner (colors)) · vi màu (spectral composition of visible light) · is litur (spectral composition of visible light) · si වර්ණ (spectral composition of visible light) · nn farge (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ca color (particular set of the visible spectrum) · dlm colaur (spectral composition of visible light) · tl kulay (spectral composition of visible light) · br liv (spectral composition of visible light) · vec color (spectral composition of visible light) · jv werna (spectral composition of visible light) · egy i-wn:n-D3 (spectral composition of visible light) · ota فام (particular set of the visible spectrum) · bg цвят (particular set of the visible spectrum) · hu színárnyalat (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · sw launi (spectral composition of visible light) · fa رَنْگ (particular set of the visible spectrum) · ml വർണ്ണം (particular set of the visible spectrum) · nn fargetone (hue as opposed to achromatic colors) · lou koulèr (particular set of the visible spectrum)
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ḱel-
Proto-Indo-European *-os
Proto-Indo-European *-s
Proto-Indo-European *-ōs
Proto-Indo-European *ḱélōs
Proto-Italic *kelōs
Old Latin colōs
Latin color
Old French color
Anglo-Norman colurbor.
Middle English colour
English color
From Middle English colour, color, borrowed from Anglo-Norman colur, from Old French colour, color, from Latin color. Doublet of couleur.
Largely displaced English blee, Middle English blee (“color”), from Old English blēo. Also partially replaced Old English hīew (“color”) and its descendants (English hue), which is less often used in this sense.
The spelling color was popularized in modern American English by Noah Webster, to match the spelling of the word's Latin etymon, and make all American spellings of the derivatives consistent (colorimeter, coloration, colorize, colorless, etc).
Meanings
(US, transitive) To give something color.
We could color the walls red.
(US, transitive) To give something color. ▸ To cause (a pipe, especially a meerschaum) to take on a brown or black color, by smoking.
(US, intransitive) To apply colors to the areas within the boundaries of a line drawing using colored markers or crayons.
My kindergartener loves to color.
(US, of a person or their face) To become red through increased blood flow.
Her face colored as she realized her mistake.
(US) To affect without completely changing.
That interpretation certainly colors my perception of the book.
(US, informal) To attribute a quality to; to portray (as).
Color me confused.
They tried to colour the industrial unrest as a merely local matter.
(US) To assign colors to the vertices of a graph (or the regions of a map) so that no two vertices connected by an edge (regions sharing a border) have the same color.
You can color any map with four colors.
Can this graph be 2-colored?
(US, of a phoneme, usually) To affect the quality of a speech sound, especially a vowel.
The Proto-Indo-European laryngeal *h₂ often colors the neutral vowel *e with an a-like quality, while *h₃ results in a more o-like quality; *h₁ has no coloring effect.
Many languages have a "neutral", roughly central vowel like /a/ or /ə/ which can be colored to a back, rounded vowel like [o] by an adjacent labialized consonant, or to a front, unrounded vowel like [e] by an adjacent palatalized consonant.
nl kleuren (affect without completely changing) · pt ruborizar (become red through increased blood flow) · ko 칠하다 (give something color) · ckb رەنگ کردن (give something color) · be пафарбава́ць (give something color) · nl kleuren (draw using crayons) · sv färglägga (draw using crayons) · uk зафарбо́вувати (draw using crayons) · el κοκκινίζω (become red through increased blood flow) · hu elpirul (become red through increased blood flow) · gv daah (give something color) · zh 著色 (give something color) · sv rodna (become red through increased blood flow) · nn fargeleggja (draw using crayons) · ja 染める (become red through increased blood flow) · ja 塗る (give something color) · ru покра́сить (give something color) · tr boyamak (give something color) · pt colorir (give something color) · nl kleuren (become red through increased blood flow) · da rødme (become red through increased blood flow) · uk зафарбува́ти (draw using crayons) · cs začervenat se (become red through increased blood flow) · uk розфарбува́ти (give something color) · sv färga (give something color) · it colorire (give something color) · nl inkleuren (give something color) · eo kolori (give something color) · de färben (give something color) · nn fargelegga (draw using crayons) · nb male (draw using crayons) · da farve (affect without completely changing) · vo kölön (give something color) · pl kolorować (give something color) · nn måle (draw using crayons) · ms mewarna (give something color) · ang blēo (give something color) · pl zabarwiać (give something color) · ru рде́ться (become red through increased blood flow) · is lita (give something color) · no rødme (become red through increased blood flow) · hu módosít (affect without completely changing) · nl een kleur krijgen (become red through increased blood flow) · fa رنگ کردن (give something color) · fi värjätä (affect without completely changing) · da male (give something color) · it colorire (become red through increased blood flow) · es colorear (draw using crayons) · ca acolorir (give something color) · cs obarvit (give something color) · fr teinter (give something color) · da farve (give something color) · sq ngjyros (draw using crayons) · zh 上色 (give something color) · bg оцветявам (give something color) · hy կարմրել (become red through increased blood flow) · es colorar (give something color) · nl blozen (become red through increased blood flow) · ja 塗る (draw using crayons) · es ponerse colorado (become red through increased blood flow) · gl colorar (give something color) · sv färgsätta (give something color) · sq skuq (become red through increased blood flow) · ps رنګول (give something color) · he צבע (give something color) · nn fargeleggje (draw using crayons) · is lita (affect without completely changing) · sv måla (draw using crayons) · eo kolorigi (give something color) · sq ly (give something color) · ru красне́ть (become red through increased blood flow) · zh 填色 (give something color) · ko 붉히다 (become red through increased blood flow) · sl zardeti (become red through increased blood flow) · sv färglägga (mathematics: assign distinct colors to the vertices or regions of) · la colōrō (give something color) · de rot werden (become red through increased blood flow) · ru кра́сить (give something color) · el βάφω (give something color) · hu fest (give something color) · hy ներկել (draw using crayons) · pt colorir (draw using crayons) · br livañ (give something color) · ia colorar (give something color) · fi värjätä (give something color) · is lita (draw using crayons) · nb farge (give something color) · it colorare (draw using crayons) · cs zardít se (become red through increased blood flow) · is roðna (become red through increased blood flow) · uk червоні́ти (become red through increased blood flow) · fr colorier (draw using crayons) · bg изчервявам се (become red through increased blood flow) · be фарбава́ць (give something color) · bg оцветявам (draw using crayons) · fi värittää (draw using crayons) · fr rougir (become red through increased blood flow) · nl kleuren (give something color) · da få kulør (become red through increased blood flow) · cjs сырларға (give something color) · hu színez (give something color) · pt enrubescer (become red through increased blood flow) · vi nhuộm (give something color) · el χρωματίζω (draw using crayons) · it colorare (give something color) · de ausmalen (draw using crayons) · hu kihat (affect without completely changing) · da få farve (become red through increased blood flow) · pt corar (become red through increased blood flow) · nn fargelegge (draw using crayons) · sl narisati (draw using crayons) · ru раскра́шивать (draw using crayons) · sv färglägga (give something color) · no farge (affect without completely changing) · uk фарбува́ти (give something color) · es colorir (give something color) · da male (draw using crayons) · fr colorer (give something color) · ar لَوَّنَ (give something color) · fi punastua (become red through increased blood flow) · sl pobarvati (give something color) · it arrossire (become red through increased blood flow) · de erröten (become red through increased blood flow) · ru раскра́сить (draw using crayons) · he הסמיק (become red through increased blood flow) · nb fargelegge (draw using crayons) · uk розфарбо́вувати (give something color) · ota بویالامق (give something color) · el χρωματίζω (give something color) · sv färga (affect without completely changing) · ga dathaigh (give something color) · pl barwić (give something color) · hy ներկել (give something color) · ro colora (give something color) · es colorear (give something color) · hu színez (draw using crayons) · uk почервоні́ти (become red through increased blood flow)