chrominance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical
Quick answer
What does “chrominance” mean?
The color component of a video signal, separate from luminance (brightness).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The color component of a video signal, separate from luminance (brightness).
In color science and video technology, the aspect of a color signal that carries hue and saturation information, independent of its brightness.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent.
Connotations
Technical, precise, related to signal processing.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “chrominance” in a Sentence
The chrominance of the signalAdjust the chrominanceSeparate luminance from chrominanceVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chrominance” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The chrominance signal was weak.
- We need a chrominance filter.
American English
- The chrominance component was corrupted.
- Check the chrominance settings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in companies dealing with broadcast equipment or video technology.
Academic
Used in engineering, physics, and computer science papers on color theory and video signals.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Standard term in television engineering, video editing, and color science documentation.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chrominance”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chrominance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chrominance”
- Using 'chrominance' to refer to general color (instead of the technical signal component).
- Pronouncing it as /krɒmɪnəns/ (with a short 'o').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a technical term used primarily in television engineering, video processing, and related fields.
In technical contexts, they are often used synonymously. However, 'chrominance' specifically refers to the signal component, while 'chroma' can be a more general term for colorfulness.
It would sound very technical and out of place. In everyday contexts, use 'colour' instead.
It is typically carried by a subcarrier wave modulated with colour difference signals (e.g., in analog PAL or NTSC systems).
The color component of a video signal, separate from luminance (brightness).
Chrominance is usually technical in register.
Chrominance: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkrəʊmɪnəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkroʊmɪnəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Separate the wheat from the chaff (conceptual analogy for separating luminance and chrominance)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of CHROMINANCE as the CHROMA (color) part of a signal, like the paint that gives a picture its hues, separate from the black-and-white sketch (luminance).
Conceptual Metaphor
COLOR IS A SEPARATE LAYER (like a transparency overlay on a monochrome base image).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'chrominance' specifically refer to in a video signal?