Colors — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb phrase adjective /ˈkə-lər/ (noun) /ˈpär-tē-ˌkə-lər/ (adjective) col·or

Meaning & Definition of Colors

Colors (noun)

  1. a phenomenon of light (such as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects
  2. the aspect of the appearance of objects and light sources that may be described in terms of hue, lightness, and saturation for objects and hue, brightness, and saturation for light sources; also, a specific combination of hue, saturation, and lightness or brightness
  3. a color other than and as contrasted with black, white, or gray
  4. earth tone
  5. color in an image (such as a photograph) of an object that does not actually appear in the object but is used to enhance, contrast, or distinguish details
  6. the presentation of the features and peculiarities of a particular locality and its inhabitants in writing
  7. a pigment used for oil paint
  8. oil paint
  9. an opaque watercolor paint with a gum- or glue-size binder sold usually in jars —called also poster paint

Colors (verb)

  1. to give color to
  2. to change the color of (as by dyeing, staining, or painting)
  3. to change as if by dyeing or painting

Colors (phrase)

  1. with complete or eminent success
  2. to show what one is really like, to reveal one's real nature or character

Colors (adjective)

  1. showing different colors or tints; especially, having a predominant color broken by patches of one or more other colors

Colors (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling

    "flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship"

  2. the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation

    "she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors"

  3. the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others

    "we saw his true colors during the emergency"

Colors (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to give color or a different color to

    "per the couple's request, the baker used natural ingredients like beet juice and turmeric to color the icing for the wedding cake"

    opposite: decolorizes
  2. to add to the interest of by including made-up details

    "he gave a highly colored version of a rather mundane experience"

  3. to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of

    "his news reporting is colored by his prejudices"

  4. to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)

    "she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight"

Related Entry: Color (noun)

Color is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for color, not for colors.

  1. a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished

    "a shirt that is available in every color of the rainbow"

  2. a substance used to color other materials

    "added some red color to the base paint"

    related: tint, toner, cast, hue, shade, tinge
  3. the hue or appearance of the skin and especially of the face

    "her color hasn't been good since she got sick"

  4. a piece of cloth with a special design that is used as an emblem or for signaling

    "flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship"

  5. a rosy appearance (of the cheeks)

    "the stay in the country brought color to her cheeks"

    similar: bloom, blush, flush
  6. the combined army, air force, and navy of a nation

    "she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors"

  7. the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others

    "we saw his true colors during the emergency"

Related Entry: Color (verb)

Color is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for color, not for colors.

  1. to give color or a different color to

    "per the couple's request, the baker used natural ingredients like beet juice and turmeric to color the icing for the wedding cake"

    similar: bepaint (archaic), dye, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint
    opposite: decolorize
  2. to add to the interest of by including made-up details

    "he gave a highly colored version of a rather mundane experience"

  3. to change so much as to create a wrong impression or alter the meaning of

    "his news reporting is colored by his prejudices"

  4. to develop a rosy facial color (as from excitement or embarrassment)

    "she colored after hearing the nasty remarks about her weight"

Related Entry: Primary colors (noun)

Primary colors is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for primary colors, not for colors.

  1. as in secondary colors, tertiary colors

    opposite: achromatisms

Related Entry: Secondary colors (noun)

Secondary colors is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for secondary colors, not for colors.

  1. as in primary colors, tertiary colors

    opposite: achromatisms

Related Entry: Tertiary colors (noun)

Tertiary colors is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for tertiary colors, not for colors.

  1. as in primary colors, secondary colors

    opposite: achromatisms

Related Entry: Flying (adjective)

Flying is a different word from Colors. The synonyms below are for flying, not for colors.

  1. acting or done with excessive or careless speed

    "a flying attempt at finishing the work"

  2. moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed

    "that car was flying as it careened down the streets"

    opposite: slow

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Colors

The most common words with a similar meaning to Colors:

Chiefly British: pendant
Archaic: bepaints

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Colors

Words with the opposite meaning of Colors:

Near Antonyms of Colors

Word Forms of Colors

Inflections: colored, coloring

Derived words: colorer (noun), parti-color (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Colors

Middle English colour, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin color, earlier colōs "color as a physical phenomenon, pigment, complexion, appearance," probably, assuming an original meaning "covering, outermost layer, appearance," going back to *ḱel-ōs, collective derivative from an Indo-European s-stem *ḱel-os "covering" (whence perhaps Sanskrit śaras- "skin on boiled milk, cream" and, from a thematic derivative, Old High German hulisa "hull of a legume"), derivative of a verbal base *ḱel- "cover, conceal" conceal

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Colors

Frequently Asked Questions about Colors

What does "Colors" mean?

"Colors" means a phenomenon of light (such as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects. As an a noun, a verb, a phrase and an adjective, it is defined as: a phenomenon of light (such as red, brown, pink, or gray) or visual perception that enables one to differentiate otherwise identical objects. It has 7 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Colors"?

Other words for "Colors" include banderole, banner, ensign, flag, guidon, jack, pendant and pennant. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Colors" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Colors"?

There are 197 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Colors". Common alternatives include banderole, banner, ensign, flag, guidon, jack, pendant, pennant, pennon and standard.

What is the opposite of "Colors"?

Antonyms of "Colors" include decolorizes. Near antonyms include civilians, noncombatants, blanches and bleaches.

How do you use "Colors" in a sentence?

Examples of "Colors" in a sentence: "flew their country's colors atop the highest mast on the ship"; "she hopes to carry on the family tradition and serve with the colors"; "we saw his true colors during the emergency".

Is "Colors" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Colors" can be used as a noun, a verb, a phrase and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Colors"?

"Colors" is pronounced /ˈkə-lər/ as a noun and /ˈpär-tē-ˌkə-lər/ as an adjective and divided into syllables as col·or.

What is the origin of the word "Colors"?

"Colors" comes from Middle English colour, borrowed from Anglo-French, going back to Latin color, earlier colōs "color as a physical phenomenon, pigment, complexion, appearance," probably, assuming an original meaning "covering, outermost layer, appearance," going back to *ḱel-ōs, collective derivative from an Indo-European s-stem *ḱel-os "covering" (whence perhaps Sanskrit śaras- "skin on boiled milk, cream" and, from a thematic derivative, Old High German hulisa "hull of a legume"), derivative of a verbal base *ḱel- "cover, conceal" conceal. First known use: 14th century.