the quality of an object or substance with respect to light reflected by the object, usually determined visually by measurement of hue, saturation, and brightness of the reflected light; saturation or chroma; hue.

the natural appearance of the skin, esp. of the face; complexion

She has a lovely color.

a ruddy complexion

The wind and sun had given color to the sailor's face.

a blush

His remarks brought the color to her face.

vivid or distinctive quality, as of a literary work

Melville's description of a whaling voyage is full of color.

details in description, customs, speech, habits, etc., of a place or period

The novel takes place in New Orleans and contains much local color.

something that is used for coloring; pigment; paint; tint; dye.

background information, as anecdotes about players or competitors or analyses of plays, strategy, or performance, given by a sportscaster to heighten interest in a sportscast.

colors,

any distinctive color or combination or pattern of colors, esp. of a badge, ribbon, uniform, or the like, worn or displayed as a symbol of or to identify allegiance to, membership in, or sponsorship by a school, group, or organization.

nature, viewpoint, or attitude; character; personality

His behavior in a crisis revealed his true colors.

a flag, ensign, etc., particularly the national flag.

U.S. Navy . the ceremony of hoisting the national flag at 8 a.m. and of lowering it at sunset.

skin complexion of a particular people or race, esp. when other than white

a man of color.

outward appearance or aspect; guise or show

It was a lie, but it had the color of the truth.

a pretext

She did it under the color of doing a good deed.

Painting . the general use or effect of the pigments in a picture.

Phonetics . timbre.

Chiefly Law . an apparent or prima facie right or ground

to hold possession under color of title.

Music . tone color.

a trace or particle of valuable mineral, esp. gold, as shown by washing auriferous gravel.

Physics . any of the labels red, green, or blue that designate the three states in which quarks are expected to exist, or any of the corresponding labels for antiquark states. Compare quantum chromodynamics , quark model .

Printing . the amount of ink used.

Heraldry . a tincture other than a fur or metal, usually including gules, azure, vert, sable, and purpure.

involving, utilizing, yielding, or possessing color

a color TV.

to give or apply color to; tinge; paint; dye

She colored her hair dark red.

to cause to appear different from the reality

In order to influence the jury, he colored his account of what had happened.

to give a special character or distinguishing quality to

His personal feelings color his writing.

to take on or change color

The ocean colored at dawn.

to flush; blush

He colored when confronted with the incriminating evidence.

call to the colors

to summon for service in the armed forces

Thousands are being called to the colors.

change color

to blush as from embarrassment.

to turn pale, as from fear

When he saw the size of his opponent, he changed color.

with flying colors. flying colors.

verb

discolor , pale , whiten , be truthful , represent , bleach , decolor , decolorize

noun

blush , cast , chroma , chromaticity , chromatism , chromism , colorant , coloration , coloring , complexion , dye , glow , hue , intensity , iridescence , luminosity , paint , pigmentation , polychromasia , saturation , stain , tinct , tincture , tinge , tint , undertone , value , washnotes:color refers to the wavelength composition of light , shade is a gradation of color referring to its degree of darkness , tint is a gradation referring to its degree of lightness , and hue indicates a modification of a basic color , deception , disguise , excuse , facade , face , false show , front , guise , mask , plea , pretense , pretext , put-on , semblance , shownotes:color refers to the wavelength composition of light , shade , tone , dyestuff , pigment , flush , banderole , banner , banneret , ensign , jack , oriflamme , pennant , pennon , standard , streamer , cloak , cover , disguisement , false colors , gloss , masquerade , show , veil , veneer , window-dressing , believability , credibility , credibleness , creditability , creditableness , plausibility , plausibleness , chromatics , fascia , kaleidoscope , melanin , nuance , palette , rainbow , spectrum

verb

adorn , blacken , bloom , blush , burn , chalk , crayon , crimson , darken , daub , dye , embellish , emblazon , enamel , enliven , flush , fresco , gild , glaze , gloss , illuminate , imbue , infuse , lacquer , paint , pigment , pinken , redden , rouge , stain , stipple , suffuse , tinge , tint , tone , variegate , washnotes:color refers to the wavelength composition of light , shade is a gradation of color referring to its degree of darkness , tint is a gradation referring to its degree of lightness , and hue indicates a modification of a basic color , angle * , belie , cook up * , disguise , doctor * , embroider * , fake , falsify , fudge * , garble , gloss over , magnify , misrepresent , misstate , overstate , pad * , pervert , prejudice , slant * , taint , twist * , warp *notes:color refers to the wavelength composition of light , tincture , glow , mantle , load , twist , warp , wrench , wrest , gloze , sugarcoat , varnish , veneer , whitewash , achromatize , cast , colorize , decolorize , distort , etiolate , flag , hue , palliate , shade