colour: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “colour” mean?
The visual perceptual property derived from the spectrum of light, corresponding to categories such as red, blue, and yellow.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The visual perceptual property derived from the spectrum of light, corresponding to categories such as red, blue, and yellow.
Interest, variety, or excitement; also refers to racial or ethnic identity, or vividness in description or art.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: British 'colour', American 'color'. Pronunciation: British non-rhotic /ˈkʌl.ə/, American rhotic /ˈkʌl.ɚ/.
Connotations
Generally similar, but 'colour' may sound more formal or British in some contexts.
Frequency
Both are highly frequent in their respective varieties, with 'colour' standard in British English and 'color' in American English.
Grammar
How to Use “colour” in a Sentence
transitive verb: colour [object]intransitive verb: colour [with adverb]noun: [adjective] colourVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “colour” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She will colour the drawing with crayons.
- He coloured his hair to hide the grey.
American English
- She will color the drawing with crayons.
- He colored his hair to hide the gray.
adverb
British English
- The film was broadcast in colour.
- She described the scene colourfully.
American English
- The film was broadcast in color.
- She described the scene colorfully.
adjective
British English
- They bought a colour television.
- This is a colour photograph.
American English
- They bought a color TV.
- This is a color photograph.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in branding and design, e.g., 'corporate colours' for brand identity.
Academic
In physics, refers to light wavelengths; in art, to colour theory and perception.
Everyday
Common in daily descriptions, e.g., 'What colour is your car?'
Technical
In printing, refers to CMYK colours; in computing, to RGB values.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “colour”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “colour”
- Misspelling 'colour' as 'color' in British English contexts.
- Using 'colour' as a verb without object, e.g., 'She colours' instead of 'She colours in'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Colour' is the British English spelling, while 'color' is the American English spelling.
Yes, 'colour' can be a verb meaning to add colour to something, e.g., 'to colour a picture'.
Yes, common idioms include 'off colour' (feeling unwell) and 'with flying colours' (with great success).
In American English, it is pronounced /ˈkʌl.ɚ/, similar to 'color'.
The visual perceptual property derived from the spectrum of light, corresponding to categories such as red, blue, and yellow.
Colour is usually neutral in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “off colour”
- “show your true colours”
- “with flying colours”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember 'u' in 'colour' as in 'United Kingdom' for British spelling.
Conceptual Metaphor
Colour as emotion or mood, e.g., 'feeling blue', 'green with envy'.
Practice
Quiz
Which spelling is correct in American English?