- [countable, uncountable] the appearance that things have that results from the way in which they reflect light. Red, orange and green are colours.
- What's your favourite colour?
- bright/vibrant/bold colours
- She always wears dark colours.
- I'd like to paint this room in a lighter colour.
- a warm colour palette (= the range of colours used for something)
- available in 12 different colours
- the colour of the sky
- skin/hair colour
- in colour red/green/blue, etc. in colour
- Her hair is a reddish-brown colour.
- The stage lights changed colour from red to blue.
- Foods which go through a factory process lose much of their colour, flavour and texture.
Synonyms colourcolourshade ▪ hue ▪ tint ▪ tingeThese words all describe the appearance of things, resulting from the way in which they reflect light.colour the appearance that things have, resulting from the way in which they reflect light. Red, green and blue are colours:- What’s your favourite colour?
- bright/dark/light colours
- Her eyes were a delicate shade of green.
- His face took on an unhealthy, whitish hue.
- leaves with red and gold autumn tints
- There was a pink tinge to the sky.
- a warm/rich colour/shade/hue/tint
- a bright/vivid/vibrant/dark/deep colour/shade/hue
- a pale/pastel/soft/subtle/delicate colour/shade/hue
- a light/strong/neutral/natural colour/shade
Extra ExamplesTopics Colours and Shapesa1- Dark colours suit you best.
- Green is a good colour on you.
- I like to wear bright colours.
- Simple patterns and solid colours are particularly effective.
- The chameleon changes colour to match its surroundings.
- The curtains went a strange orange colour when we washed them.
- The flowers are pale blue in colour.
- The garden is a riot of colour in spring.
- The leaf colour ranges from dark green to almost brown.
- The scarf is available in six different colours.
- What is her natural hair colour?
- Your shirt matches the colour of your eyes.
- cool colours like blue and grey
- the intense colour of new leaves
- The garden was a mass of colour.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bold
- bright
- brilliant
- …
- dash
- flash
- splash
- …
- change
- add
- match
- …
- match (something)
- clash
- fade
- …
- combination
- range
- scheme
- …
- in colour
- in a colour
- a combination of colours
- a range of colours
Definitions on the go
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- [uncountable] (usually before another noun) the use of all the colours, not only black and white
- the introduction of colour television in the UK in 1967
- colour photographs
- a colour printer
- a full-colour brochure
- in colour Do you dream in colour?
Extra Examples- a colour TV in every room
- a 48-page reference section in full colour
- a 24-page full-colour booklet
- The book is lavishly illustrated in full colour.
- Is the film in colour or black and white?
- colour photography/printing
- [uncountable, countable] the colour of a person’s skin, seen as showing that they belong to a particular race
- Discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or colour was outlawed.
- people of all ages, genders, creeds and colours
- to discriminate on the basis of colour
Oxford Collocations Dictionarycolour/color + noun- bar
- barrier
- of colour
- on the basis of colour
- on (the) grounds of colour
- [uncountable] a red or pink colour in somebody’s face, especially when it shows that they look healthy or that they are embarrassed
- The fresh air brought colour to their cheeks.
- Colour flooded her face when she thought of what had happened.
- His face was drained of colour (= he looked pale and ill).
Extra Examples- Gradually the colour returned to his cheeks.
- Her face drained of all colour.
- I could feel the colour rush to my cheeks.
- The colour drained from her face when she saw him.
- The colour rose in his face.
- The walk brought colour to her face.
- You could tell she was excited by the heightened colour in her cheeks.
- You have a bit more colour in your cheeks now.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- heightened
- high
- faint
- …
- have
- bring
- be drained of
- …
- flood something
- rise
- rush
- …
- [countable, uncountable] a substance that is used to give colour to something
- a semi-permanent hair colour that lasts six to eight washes
- This colour runs, so wash the shirt separately.
- [uncountable] interesting and exciting details or qualities
- The old town is full of colour and attractions.
- Her acting added warmth and colour to the production.
- to add/give/lend colour to something (= make it brighter, more interesting, etc.)
Extra Examples- These flowers certainly give the room a bit of colour.
- His asides lent colour to the story.
- The silk cushions add colour to an otherwise dull room.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- local
- add
- give something
- lend
- …
- full of colour
- colours[plural] the particular colours that are used on clothes, flags, etc. to represent a team, school, political party or country
- Red and white are the team colours.
- Spain’s national colours
- (figurative) There are people of different political colours on the committee.
- colours[plural] (especially British English) a flag, badge, etc. that represents a team, country, ship, etc.
- Most buildings had a flagpole with the national colours flying.
- sailing under the French colours
red, green, etc.
of skin
of face
substance
interesting details
of team/country, etc.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French colour (noun), colourer (verb), from Latin color (noun), colorare (verb).
Idioms
See colour in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishlend colour to something
- (British English, formal) to make something seem true or likely
- Most of the available evidence lends colour to this view.
nail your colours to the mast
- (especially British English) to say publicly and clearly what you believe or who you support
of colour
- (of a person) who is not white
- people of colour
- As a woman of colour, this concerns me.
- a literary prize for writers of colour
- students of colour
see the colour of somebody’s money
- (informal) to make sure that somebody has enough money to pay for something
- You need to see the colour of his money before you sell him the car.
your true colours
- (often disapproving) your real character, rather than the one that you usually allow other people to see
- It was only after they got married that he showed himself in his true colours.
with flying colours
- very well; with a very high mark
- She passed the exam with flying colours.
Check pronunciation:
colour