colour
colour — verb
1. when the shade or appearance of something turns into a different colour, or when
when the shade or appearance of something turns into a different colour, or when you cause that change by adding something like paint or dye
The leaves on the maple tree began to colour gold in early October.
colour + gold/red/blue — verb followed by colour name
Sumin coloured the paper heart bright red for her mother's birthday card.
colour + object + colour name
The sunset coloured the whole sky in shades of pink and orange.
inanimate subject: sunset colours the sky
Eliska coloured her Easter eggs by dipping them in pots of blue and green dye.
colour + [object] + by + [method]
- colour gold/red/blue
- colour something pink/green
- colour in
- fade
to lose colour over time
Grammar Patterns
colour + [colour name]
colour + object + [colour name]
Usage Note
Unlike 'paint', which usually implies a deliberate coating, 'colour' can describe both natural processes (leaves colouring) and intentional actions (colouring a picture).
Common Mistakes
2. to fill a picture or outline with different shades using crayons, felt-tip pens,
to fill a picture or outline with different shades using crayons, felt-tip pens, paints, or similar art materials
The kindergarten children spent the afternoon colouring pictures of farm animals.
colour + picture/drawing — typical object
Mayumi carefully coloured the flowers in her notebook with purple and yellow pencils.
colour + with + [tool]
Darius asked if he could colour the sky purple instead of blue.
colour + object + colour name (creative choice)
Asher and his sister sat at the kitchen table colouring a world map.
colour + a map/a picture — activity pattern
- colour in
- colour a picture
- colour with crayons/pencils
Grammar Patterns
colour + [picture/drawing]
colour + object + with + [tool]
Usage Note
This sense is the one used for the activity 'colouring in' — a common childhood pastime. The object is nearly always a picture, outline, or area within a drawing.
Common Mistakes
3. when a person's face becomes red, usually because they feel embarrassed, shy, or
when a person's face becomes red, usually because they feel embarrassed, shy, or ashamed
Ayesha coloured when the teacher praised her project in front of the whole class.
colour when [something embarrassing happens]
Gabriel coloured with embarrassment after accidentally tripping on the stage.
colour with + emotion (embarrassment/ shame)
Yan coloured slightly at the unexpected compliment from his manager.
colour at + [trigger] — pattern
Adisa coloured whenever someone mentioned his award in the staff meeting.
colour whenever + [trigger event]
- colour with embarrassment
- colour at something
- colour slightly
- pale
to become pale, especially from fear or shock — opposite of turning red from embarrassment
Grammar Patterns
colour + with + [emotion]
Usage Note
Used mainly in formal or literary contexts. In everyday speech, 'blush' or 'go red' are more common.
Common Mistakes
4. to cause a person's opinion, attitude, or judgement to become less positive or f
to cause a person's opinion, attitude, or judgement to become less positive or fair, usually because of a past experience or personal bias
Yusuf's previous experience with dishonest mechanics coloured his view of every auto repair shop.
colour + one's view/opinion of something
The newspaper article was heavily coloured by the writer's own political opinions.
passive: be coloured by [something]
Romi tried not to let past disappointment colour her feelings about the new job.
let something colour + feeling/opinion — causative pattern
The unfair review coloured the public's opinion of the restaurant for months after it opened.
colour + public's opinion — broad subject pattern
- colour someone's view
- colour someone's opinion
- coloured by experience
- coloured by bias
- clarify
to make an opinion clearer or fairer, opposite of introducing bias
Grammar Patterns
be coloured by + [experience/event]
colour + [opinion/view]
Usage Note
Common in passive constructions ('coloured by'). Has a negative connotation — the influence usually distorts or biases rather than improves the judgement.
Common Mistakes
colour — noun
1. one of the visual qualities that objects have, such as red, blue, green, or yell
one of the visual qualities that objects have, such as red, blue, green, or yellow, created by the way light reflects off a surface.
"What colour is your new car?" "It is dark blue."
question pattern: what colour is…?
Ryo chose a bright green colour for the front door to make it stand out.
Putri thinks the sky at sunset has the most beautiful colour she has ever seen.
colour of + noun phrase
Tanvi painted her bedroom walls a pale yellow because that colour makes her feel calm.
- bright colour
- dark colour
- light colour
- favourite colour
- colour combination
Grammar Patterns
what colour is/are…?
colour + noun (colour television, colour photo)
Usage Note
This is the most basic and common sense. When asking about someone's favourite hue, use 'What is your favourite colour?' For specific shades, combine with light/dark/bright: 'light green', 'dark red'.
Common Mistakes
2. the interesting or attractive effect created by using many bright colours togeth
the interesting or attractive effect created by using many bright colours together in one place, scene, or object.
The garden was full of colour in spring, with tulips and daffodils blooming everywhere.
idiom: full of colour
Élise added colour to the plain white room by hanging woven tapestries on the walls.
verb pattern: add colour to + noun
The market stalls were a riot of colour, with spices and fabrics stacked high.
The autumn leaves gave a wonderful burst of colour to the whole street.
collocation: burst of colour
- full of colour
- add colour
- riot of colour
- burst of colour
- splash of colour
- vibrancy
emphasises energy and brightness; slightly more formal
- liveliness
broader; can refer to non-visual energy too
- dullness
the lack of bright or interesting visual qualities
Grammar Patterns
be full of colour
add colour to something
Usage Note
Uncountable only. You cannot say 'a colour' or 'colours' in this sense. The positive connotation is always present — this sense describes an appealing, lively visual experience.
3. any material — for example paint, dye, or pigment — that people use to make a su
any material — for example paint, dye, or pigment — that people use to make a surface, piece of fabric, or object a different visual shade.
Felipe bought two new colours for his painting — a deep purple and a warm gold.
countable: 'a colour' = a type of paint
The artist mixed her own colours from natural pigments she collected near the river.
This brand of hair colour lasts longer than the one I used before.
compound noun: hair colour
Jude tested several paint colours on the wall before choosing a soft grey.
- hair colour
- oil colour
- watercolour
- mix colours
- apply colour
Grammar Patterns
colour + noun (hair colour, eye colour)
apply a colour to something
Usage Note
Countable as a product type ('a colour', 'two colours'). The substance sense overlaps with 'paint' for walls, 'dye' for fabric/hair, and 'pigment' for art. In shops, colours are identified by names or numbers.
4. a reddish tone that appears on someone's skin, especially the cheeks, and may in
a reddish tone that appears on someone's skin, especially the cheeks, and may indicate strong emotion, good physical condition, or sudden shyness.
When Brooke realised everyone was looking at her, the colour rose to her cheeks.
pattern: the colour (rose/came) to one's cheeks
Ezra lost all his colour when he heard the shocking news about the accident.
idiom: lose colour (become pale)
There was good colour in Aylin's face after a week in the mountains.
Ziad's face changed colour when his manager praised him in front of the whole team.
common phrase: change colour
- colour in the/one's face
- colour to one's cheeks
- lose colour
- change colour
- high colour
- pallor
unnatural paleness, often from illness or fear
Grammar Patterns
colour in/to someone's face/cheeks
lose (one's) colour
change colour
Usage Note
Uncountable. The phrase 'to change colour' means the face becomes red or pale due to strong emotion. In British English, 'colour' in this sense is more common than 'color' even in informal contexts.
Common Mistakes
5. a healthy-looking complexion in a person's face, especially one that returns aft
a healthy-looking complexion in a person's face, especially one that returns after a period of illness or tiredness.
After a few days of rest, the colour slowly came back to Devika's face.
pattern: colour comes back to one's face
Morning walks in the park brought the colour back to Hari's cheeks after his long illness.
pattern: bring colour back to one's cheeks
The doctor said the child needed more iron to get some colour back into her skin.
Yuna's grandmother smiled when she saw colour returning to her granddaughter's cheeks.
- colour comes back
- colour returns
- bring colour back
- get colour back
- paleness
lack of healthy colour in the face
Grammar Patterns
colour returns/comes back to someone's face
bring the colour back to someone's cheeks
Usage Note
Distinguish from FACE FLUSH (sense 4): this sense specifically describes the return of a healthy complexion after illness or exhaustion, not an emotional reaction. Almost always used with verbs of return: 'come back', 'return', 'bring back'.
6. interesting, exciting, or vivid qualities that make something stand out, feel li
interesting, exciting, or vivid qualities that make something stand out, feel lively, or become worth paying attention to.
The guide's stories about local festivals added colour to our tour of the small village.
collocation: add colour to something
Sivan's unusual instruments brought colour to what could have been a dull performance.
The novelist travelled through several countries collecting local colour for her next book.
fixed phrase: local colour
João's anecdotes about his childhood gave colour to an otherwise serious dinner conversation.
- local colour
- add colour
- give colour
- colour and excitement
- vividness
the quality of making a strong, clear impression
- liveliness
energy and activity; less visual than 'colour'
- richness
suggests depth and variety of interesting detail
- dullness
lack of interesting or exciting qualities
Grammar Patterns
add/give colour to something
colour and excitement
local colour
Usage Note
Uncountable — cannot be pluralised. Common in creative and evaluative contexts (reviews, travel writing, literary criticism). The fixed phrase 'local colour' refers to authentic, distinctive details of a place that bring a description to life.
7. the natural shade of someone's skin, used as a broad way of describing their eth
the natural shade of someone's skin, used as a broad way of describing their ethnic background or ancestry
The school does not discriminate against any student on the basis of colour or religion.
collocation: on the basis of colour
Liang's application form asked him to state his colour and ethnic origin.
In many countries, discrimination based on colour is against the law.
collocation: discrimination based on colour
Valentina felt proud of her colour and the cultural traditions that came with it.
The charity offers legal help to anyone facing unfair treatment because of their colour.
passive: facing unfair treatment because of their colour
- on the basis of colour
- regardless of colour
- discrimination based on colour
- because of their colour
- skin tone
a more neutral, everyday term that avoids the political weight of 'colour' in racial contexts
- complexion
focuses on the surface appearance and condition of facial skin rather than ethnic grouping
- ethnicity
broader term covering cultural background, nationality, and language, not just skin colour
Common Mistakes
8. a way of referring to people who see themselves as being outside the white ethni
a way of referring to people who see themselves as being outside the white ethnic group, used especially in discussions about race and social identity
The festival celebrated the music and food of people of colour from around the world.
fixed phrase: people of colour
Brooke joined a university society for students of colour on campus.
The charity works to improve job opportunities for women of colour in the film industry.
collocation: women of colour
Aarav explained that the term 'person of colour' includes many different ethnic backgrounds.
- people of colour
- person of colour
- women of colour
- students of colour
- communities of colour
Usage Note
The plural form 'people of colour' (or the singular 'person of colour') is the standard modern phrasing. Using 'colour' alone to mean 'non-white people' — for example, 'people of colour' is acceptable while 'coloured people' is now considered outdated and offensive in most varieties of English.
Common Mistakes
9. a special badge, strip of cloth, or tie given to students who are chosen to play
a special badge, strip of cloth, or tie given to students who are chosen to play for their school's or university's official sports team
Talia was awarded her cricket colours after the final match of the season.
collocation: awarded + colours
Stefan sewed his hockey colours onto his blazer with great pride.
You must play five matches for the first team to earn your colours at this college.
collocation: earn your colours
Mert's father keeps his old school colours in a frame on his desk at home.
- earn your colours
- win your colours
- get your colours
- be awarded colours
- cricket colours
- hockey colours
- school colours
- colours ceremony
- varsity letter
the North American equivalent, typically a cloth letter sewn onto a jacket
- honours tie
a specific type of colours item, common at British universities
Usage Note
Commonly used with verbs like 'earn', 'win', 'get', or 'be awarded'. This sense is predominantly British and Commonwealth; in North America the equivalent is often called a 'varsity letter'.
Common Mistakes
10. the official flag flown by a country, a naval vessel, or a military regiment as
the official flag flown by a country, a naval vessel, or a military regiment as its identifying emblem
The ship lowered its colours as a sign of respect when entering the foreign port.
collocation: lower the colours
Each regiment in the army carries its own colours into ceremonial parades.
The national colours were raised over the embassy on independence day.
collocation: national colours
Beatrix watched the colours flap in the wind above the old stone fortress.
- national colours
- regimental colours
- lower the colours
- raise the colours
- strike the colours
- carry the colours
- colours flying
Usage Note
Always plural when referring to a flag in this ceremonial or military sense. The singular 'colour' would not be used for a flag — 'colours' is the standard form.
Common Mistakes
11. the specific shades and patterns that a sports team, school, or other organisati
the specific shades and patterns that a sports team, school, or other organisation chooses for its clothing and flags, allowing members and fans to identify themselves with that group
The fans all wore the team's colours — blue and white stripes — to the final match.
collocation: wear the colours
Chidi bought a scarf in his university's colours to wear during the rugby tournament.
The club's colours are green and gold, and supporters wear them at every home game.
Linh painted her face in her country's colours before the Olympic ceremony began.
collocation: in [someone's] colours
Nicholas refused to wear the opposing team's colours even as a joke.
- team colours
- club colours
- school colours
- national colours
- wear the colours
- in someone's colours
- the colours of
- true colours
Usage Note
Always plural. 'True colours' in the idiom 'show one's true colours' (reveal one's real character) is historically related but is a distinct figurative sense with its own fixed phrasing.
Common Mistakes
off colour
idiomfeeling slightly unwell or not as healthy as usual.
Zola stayed home from school because she was feeling a bit off colour this morning.
Mr. Tanaka looked a little off colour at the meeting, so I asked if he needed a glass of water.
with flying colours
idiomachieving a result with great success, especially in a test, exam, or difficult situation.
Eshe passed her driving test with flying colours on the very first attempt.
The team came through the tough competition with flying colours and won the championship.
local colour
idiominteresting or typical details about a place, especially those that make a story or description feel authentic.
The travel blog was full of local colour, describing the food markets and street musicians in detail.
to be shown proof that someone can pay before agreeing to do business with them.
The seller refused to set the equipment aside until he saw the colour of the buyer's money.
To make an idea or story appear more believable or likely.
The new evidence lends colour to the detective's theory.
Does this witness statement lend colour to the accusation?
To state your beliefs or opinions openly and firmly.
The senator nailed his colours to the mast on climate change.
Maya nailed her colours to the mast by supporting the new policy.
of colour
idiomDescribes a person who is not white, often used to highlight racial identity.
The conference featured several speakers of colour.
As a woman of colour, she faced unique challenges.
To confirm that someone has enough money to pay before agreeing to a deal.
The seller wanted to see the colour of my money first.
Before we proceed, I need to see the colour of your money.
your true colours
idiomSomeone's real character, especially when it is negative and hidden before.
After the crisis, he showed his true colours by helping everyone.
She revealed her true colours when she refused to share credit.
colour — adjective
1. used before certain nouns to describe devices, processes, or images that produce
used before certain nouns to describe devices, processes, or images that produce or show pictures using many colours instead of only black, white, and shades of grey
Linh bought a colour television for her new flat in Manchester.
attributive: colour + television
Tanvi's grandfather has worked in colour photography since the 1970s.
Rafael showed us a book of colour prints from the 1960s.
collocation: colour prints
Adaeze chose colour printing for her wedding invitations to make the photos stand out.
collocation: colour printing
Colour displays on smartphones have become much more vivid over the past decade.
- colour television
- colour photography
- colour printing
- colour film
- colour display
- colour print
- black-and-white
the opposite — showing only black, white, and shades of grey
Grammar Patterns
colour + noun (attributive)
Usage Note
This adjective is used only attributively — it must appear directly before a noun. It cannot be used predicatively: ❌ 'The television is colour.'
Common Mistakes
Word family
- colourfuladjectiveA2
- colourlessadjectiveB1
- colouredadjectiveB1
- colouringnounA2
- discolourverbB2
- colourfullyadverbB1
- recolourverbC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Colour' is the broadest, everyday word for red, blue, green, etc. 'Hue' is more technical and refers specifically to the pure colour itself (e.g. 'a reddish hue'), without considering how light or dark it is. 'Shade' describes how much black has been added to a colour — 'a dark shade of blue' is simply blue with a lot of black. 'Tint' is the opposite: it describes how much white has been added ('a pale tint of green'). 'Tone' refers to how light or dark a colour looks overall, which can change with lighting. 'Pigment' is the natural colouring material inside things like plants, paint, or skin, while 'dye' is a liquid colouring substance used to change the colour of fabric or hair. For everyday use, 'colour' is the most natural choice; 'shade' and 'tone' are useful when you want to be more precise about the lightness or darkness of a specific colour.
Common collocations
Nouns
- colour scheme
- colour palette
- colour combination
- colour wheel
- colour chart
- colour range
- colour blindness
- colour photography
- colour film
Adverbs
- brightly coloured
- richly coloured
- vividly coloured
- naturally coloured
Phrases
- a splash of colour
- a riot of colour
- a burst of colour
- full of colour
- all the colours of the rainbow
- in living colour
Prepositions
- in colour
- of colour
- with colour
Etymology
From Old French 'colour', from Latin 'color' (meaning 'covering' or 'appearance'), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kel- ('to cover, conceal'). The British spelling 'colour' preserves the French/Latin '-our' suffix, while the American spelling 'color' reflects a later simplification popularised by Noah Webster in the early 19th century. The Latin root *kel- also gives us words like 'apocalypse' (literally 'uncovering') and 'cell' (a covered space).