Coloured: meaning, definitions and examples

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coloured

[ˈkʌləd ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Adjective}

in British English

Having color or a particular color. This term is commonly used in British English to describe something that has been painted or dyed in a specific color.

Synonyms

colorful, dyed, painted.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
coloured	Mainly used in British English to describe something that has color. It can be used in various contexts like objects, fabrics, etc. She wore a brightly coloured dress to the party. The artist coloured the sketch with vibrant hues.
colorful	Commonly used to describe something that has many colors or is very vibrant and eye-catching. Used in American English and often in a positive, lively context. The garden was full of colorful flowers. He has a very colorful personality.
painted	Used to describe something that has been covered with paint. Often refers to walls, art, and other surfaces that require painting. The room was freshly painted in pastel colors. He painted a beautiful landscape on canvas.
dyed	Specifically used for materials that have been colored using a dye. Commonly used for hair, fabrics, and other materials. She dyed her hair a deep shade of red. The fabric was dyed blue.

Examples of usage

The coloured walls of the house stood out in the neighborhood.
She was wearing a brightly coloured dress to the party.

^{Context #2 | Adjective}

derogatory term

Used in a derogatory way to describe a person of non-white descent. This term is considered offensive and inappropriate in modern usage.

Examples of usage

He was discriminated against because he was coloured.
She was hurt by the use of the term coloured to describe her ethnicity.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word comes from the Latin 'color', which means hue or shade, showing a long history in describing visual appearances.
In Middle English, it was spelled as 'colur' or 'colore', transforming over centuries into its current form.
The British spelling 'coloured' emphasizes the presence of color, while the American spelling 'colored' is more direct and straightforward.

Art and Culture

Coloured pigments have been used since ancient times, with cave paintings dating back thousands of years using natural colors from minerals.
In art, different colors can evoke emotions; for example, blue may feel calm, while red can be exciting or passionate.
Coloured materials like fabrics and dyes became essential in differentiating statuses in society, as certain shades were once very expensive to produce.

Psychology

Different colors can influence mood and behavior; for instance, warm colors like orange can make people feel energetic.
Studies show that environments filled with bright colors can enhance creativity and motivation, making spaces more inviting.
Color psychology is often used in marketing, where companies choose colors to attract customers based on how they perceive those colors.

Science

In terms of light, colours are made by different wavelengths; red has a longer wavelength while blue has a shorter one.
Human eyes contain specialized cells called cones, which help us see a variety of colors, allowing us to distinguish millions of hues.
Colour vision deficiency, often known as color blindness, affects how some individuals perceive colours, highlighting the diversity in human experiences.

Translations

Translations of the word "coloured" in other languages:

🇵🇹 colorido

🇮🇳 रंगीन

🇩🇪 farbig

🇮🇩 berwarna

🇺🇦 кольоровий

🇵🇱 kolorowy

🇯🇵 色付き

🇫🇷 coloré

🇪🇸 coloreado

🇹🇷 renkli

🇰🇷 색깔 있는

🇸🇦 ملون

🇨🇿 barevný

🇸🇰 farebný

🇨🇳 有色的

🇸🇮 barvni

🇮🇸 litaður

🇰🇿 түсті

🇬🇪 ფერადი

🇦🇿 rəngli

🇲🇽 coloreado

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,888, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

...
4885 eminent
4886 observer
4887 rid
4888 coloured
4889 peripheral
4890 fence
4891 introducing
...