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   colour

   /ˈkʌlə/

   noun

   • 1. the property possessed by an object of producing different sensations on the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light: "the lights flickered and changed colour" Similar hueshadetinttonetingecasttincture
   • ▪ one, or any mixture, of the constituents into which light can be separated in a spectrum or rainbow, sometimes including (loosely) black and white: "a rich brown colour"
   • ▪ the use of all colours, not only black and white, in photography or television: "he has shot the whole film in colour"
   • ▪ rosiness or redness of the face as an indication of health or of embarrassment, anger, etc.: "there was some colour back in his face" Similar rednesspinknessrosinessreddeningruddinessblushflushhigh colourglowbloomOpposite pallor
   • ▪ a substance used to give something a particular colour: "lip colour" Similar paintpigmentcolourantcolorationdyestaintintwash
   • ▪ any of the major conventional colours used in coats of arms (gules, vert, sable, azure, purpure), especially as opposed to the metals, furs, and stains.
   • ▪ any of the balls other than the white cue ball and the reds: "Hendry potted the last four colours to win 5–4"
   • 2. pigmentation of the skin, especially as an indication of someone's ethnicity: "discrimination on the basis of colour" Similar skin colourskin colouringskin tonecomplexioncolouringpigmentationraceethnic groupstock
   • ▪ a group of people considered as being distinguished by skin pigmentation: "all colours and nationalities"
   • 3. vivid appearance resulting from the juxtaposition of many bright things: "for colour, plant groups of winter-flowering pansies"
   • ▪ features that lend a particularly interesting quality to something: "a town full of colour and character" Similar vividnesslifelivelinessvivacityvitalityanimationexcitementinterestfascinationrichnesszestvervespicespicinessbitepiquancysparkleimpactvigourvigorousnessforceforcefulnesspointinformal:oomphpizzazzzingzipzappunchkickliterary:salt
   • ▪ variety of musical tone or expression: "orchestral colour"
   • 4. an item or items of a particular colour worn to identify or distinguish an individual or a member of a group, in particular a jockey or a member of a sports team: "it was Devon Loch's first victory in the colours of his royal owner"
   • ▪ a badge, cap, or other item in the distinctive colours of a particular school, awarded to a pupil selected to represent the school in a sport. Similar stripuniformcostumeliveryinsigniaregaliabadgeribbonrosetteemblemkit
   • ▪ the flag of a country, or of a regiment or ship: British "all over the world countries which had long been administered by others were hoisting their own colours" Similar flagstandardbannerpennantpennonstreamerensignbanderolependantburgeevexillumrare:gonfalonguidonlabarum
   • 5. a shade of meaning: "many events in her past had taken on a different colour"
   • 6. a quantized property of quarks which can take three values (designated blue, green, and red) for each flavour.

   verb

   • 1. change the colour of (something) by painting, dyeing, or shading it: "he coloured her hair with a selection of blonde and brown shades" Similar tintdyetingeshadepigmentstaincolour-washcolour inpaint
   • ▪ take on a different colour: "the foliage will not colour well if the soil is too rich"
   • ▪ fill (a shape or outline) with colour: "he hated finger-painting and colouring in pictures"
   • ▪ make vivid or picturesque: "he has coloured the dance with gestures from cabaret and vaudeville"
   • 2. (of a person or their skin) show embarrassment or shame by becoming red; blush: "she coloured slightly" Similar blushreddengo pink/redturn red/crimson/scarletflushcrimsonOpposite pale
   • ▪ cause (a person's skin) to change in colour: "rage coloured his pale complexion"
   • ▪ (of an emotion) imbue (a person's voice) with a particular tone: "surprise coloured her voice"
   • 3. influence, especially in a negative way; distort: "the experiences had coloured her whole existence" Similar influenceaffectslanttaintpervertwarptwistskewdistortbiasprejudicepoison
   • ▪ misrepresent by distortion or exaggeration: "witnesses might colour evidence to make a story saleable" Similar exaggerateoverstateoverdrawoverdoembroiderembellishdramatizeenhancevarnishfalsifygive a false account ofmisrepresentmisreportdisguisefudgegarbledistortmanipulatetake/quote out of contextbendput a spin onmassagestrain

   Word Origin Middle English: from Old French colour (noun), colourer (verb), from Latin color (noun), colorare (verb).

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • L

     1

   • O

     1

   • U

     1

   • R

     1

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