Colour Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/ˈkʊlər/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A property of an object that is perceived by the eye as a result of the way it reflects or emits light, having no physical existence independently of the properties of an object.

Examples

• The room was painted a soothing blue colour.
• The sunset displayed a brilliant combination of colours.

Synonyms

• Tint
• Hue

Antonyms

• Monochrome
• Neutral

Etymology

The word “colour” is derived from the French “couleur”, which in turn comes from the Latin “color”, meaning “condition of being coloured”.

Usage Notes

Colour is often used to describe visual properties, but it can also be used figuratively to describe emotional or inspirational qualities.

Cultural References

In many cultures, colours have symbolic or metaphorical meanings, such as red representing passion or love, or green representing nature or harmony.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Coleurs de l’arc-en-ciel (colors of the rainbow)

Related Words or Phrases

Hue, shade, tint, tone

Collocations

Colourful, colourful clothes, colourful language

Frequency of Use

Colour is a common word used in everyday language, with high frequency in creative fields such as art, design, and fashion.

Common Misspellings

Colour is often misspelled as “color” or “colourful” instead of “colourfully”.