noun
color
KUHL-uh
noun
1
The visual quality of light that lets us tell red from blue, green from yellow, and so on.
"She painted the fence a bright shade of blue, her favorite color."
"The artist mixed several colors to get the exact shade of sunset orange."
2
A person's skin tone, especially as it relates to race or ethnicity.
"The organization campaigns for equal treatment regardless of color."
3
Interesting or lively detail that makes something more vivid or engaging.
"The commentator added color to the broadcast with stories about each player."
verb
1
To add color to something, often with crayons, paint, or dye.
"The kids colored the pictures in their activity books."
"She colored her hair a deep auburn for the wedding."
How to Use Color
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishWhat we call red, blue, green, and every hue in between — or the act of adding those hues to something.
UK vs US
American English uses "color"; British English (and most Commonwealth countries) use "colour." Same word, different spelling convention.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
bright color
color scheme
primary colors
Word Forms
colored past tense, colors plural, colors singular
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She painted the fence a bright shade of blue, her favorite _____.
Etymology
From Old French colour/color, from Latin color. This American spelling was popularized by Noah Webster to match the Latin root more directly than the British "colour."