Dictionary

overdye en · VERB

Etymology

From over- + dye.

Meanings

1. (transitive) To dye (something already coloured) with another colour.
   • There was a sweater dress in almost the same shade of blue as one shown at Doo.Ri; overdyed plaid shirts with contrasting plaid cuffs and collars for men like those at Duckie Brown; and lots of chunky knit gray cardigans like the ones popping up all over the place — just not at the same prices. 2008 February 7, Eric Wilson, “A Gap Guy, Head to Toe”, in New York Times:
   • To last more than a few days in the sunshine, the crushed logwood needed to be over-dyed on woad- or indigo-coloured fabric. 2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, Sceptre, published 2003, page 111:
2. To dye too much.
   • Near-synonym: overcolor

Forms

Coordinates

paint over · overcoat · overpaint · overpaint

Synonyms

overcolor