- [countable, uncountable] the appearance that things have that results from the way in which they reflect light. Red, orange and green are colors.
- What's your favorite color?
- bright/vibrant colors
- dark/light colors
- She always wears dark colors.
- vivid/rich/bold colors
- a warm color palette (= the range of colors used for something)
- available in 12 different colors
- the color of the sky
- skin/hair/eye color
- in color red/green/blue in color
- Her hair is a reddish-brown color.
- The stage lights changed color from red to blue.
- Foods that go through a factory process lose much of their color, flavor and texture.
- [uncountable] (usually before another noun) the use of all the colors, not only black and white
- the introduction of color television in the 1960s
- color photographs
- a color printer
- a full-color brochure
- in color Do you dream in color?
- [uncountable, countable] the color of a person’s skin, seen as showing that they belong to a particular race
- Discrimination on the grounds of race, religion or color was outlawed.
- people of all ages, genders, creeds and colors
- [uncountable] a red or pink color in somebody’s face, especially when it shows that they look healthy or that they are embarrassed
- The fresh air brought color to their cheeks.
- Color flooded her face when she thought of what had happened.
- His face was drained of color (= he looked pale and ill).
- [countable, uncountable] a substance that is used to give color to something
- a semi-permanent hair color that lasts six to eight washes
- This color runs, so wash the shirt separately.
- [uncountable] interesting and exciting details or qualities
- The old town is full of color and attractions.
- to give/lend color to something (= make it brighter, more interesting, etc.)
- Her acting added warmth and color to the production.
- [plural] the particular colors that are used on clothes, flags, etc. to represent a team, school, political party or country
- Red and white are the team colors.
- Spain’s national colors
- (figurative) There are people of different political colors on the committee.
- [plural] (especially British English) a flag, badge, etc. that represents a team, country, ship, etc.
- sailing under the French colors
Idioms
See color in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionarynail your colors to the mast
- (especially British English) to say publicly and clearly what you believe or who you support
of color
- (of a person) who is not white
- people of color
- As a woman of color, this concerns me.
- a literary prize for writers of color
- students of color
see the color of somebody’s money
- (informal) to make sure that somebody has enough money to pay for something
- You need to see the color of his money before you sell him the car.
your true colors
- (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 colors.
with flying colors
- very well; with a very high mark
- She passed the exam with flying colors.
Check pronunciation:
color