red
English meaning: Red
Definition
Any of a range of colours having the longest wavelengths, 670 nm, of the visible spectrum; a primary additive colour for transmitted light: the colour obtained by subtracting green and blue from white light using magenta and yellow filters; the colour of blood, ripe strawberries, etc.
Example
“She wore a bright red coat that stood out in the crowd.”
Another example: “The company has been in the red for three consecutive years.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Most often the colour at the long-wavelength end of the spectrum, and the adjective for it ('a red dress'). Carries many figurative senses: danger, debt ('in the red'), anger ('see red') and politics. Common in all registers; the verb sense is rare.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English 'rēad', of Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European 'reudh-' (red).
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- white
- colourless
Related Words
Common Collocations
- bright red
- red carpet
- in the red
- see red
- red flag
- red wine
Word Forms
red (n & adj); reds; redder; reddest; redden (v); reddish (adj)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B