Hue Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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hue

[hjuː ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Noun

color

A color or a shade of a color.

Synonyms

shade, tint, tone.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hue

Used to describe a pure color without any modification by adding black, white, or gray. Often used in art and design.

  • The painter used a vibrant hue of red for the sunset
  • The hue of the leaves changes in the fall
shade

Refers to a color that has been darkened by adding black. It can also refer to the act of darkening a color. Often used in painting and design.

  • She chose a darker shade of blue for the bedroom walls
  • The artist shaded the sketch to give it depth
tone

Refers to a color that has been modified by adding gray, which makes the color less intense. Often used in interior design and color theory.

  • The designer suggested a neutral tone for the living room
  • The tone of the painting creates a calming effect
tint

Describes a color that has been lightened by adding white. It is commonly used in art, cosmetics, and fashion.

  • The nursery was painted in a soft tint of pink
  • She applied a light tint of red lipstick

Examples of usage

  • The walls were painted in a beautiful hue of blue.
  • She loved the soft hues of the sunset.
Context #2 | Noun

expression

A particular style or manner.

Synonyms

manner, style, tone.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hue

Typically used when talking about colors or shades of color.

  • She loved the soft hue of the sunset
  • The artist mixed different hues to get the perfect shade
style

Often used to describe a particular way or design in art, fashion, or other forms.

  • Her clothing style is very unique
  • The artist's style is easily recognizable
manner

Used to describe a way of doing something or someone's behavior.

  • He greeted everyone in a polite manner
  • Her manner of speaking was very clear and concise
tone

Commonly used to refer to the attitude or feeling of voice, or the character of a piece of writing.

  • His tone was calm and reassuring
  • The tone of the article was very critical

Examples of usage

  • His speech had a humorous hue to it.
  • The event had a political hue.
Context #3 | Verb

color

To color or tint with a certain shade.

Synonyms

color, shade, tint.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
hue

Hue often refers to a distinct characteristic of color, or a particular shade in terms of its primary and secondary attributes. It is widely used in artistic, design, and technical contexts to describe color properties.

  • The painter selected a vibrant hue for the background.
  • Adjust the hue on your monitor to achieve a more accurate display.
color

Color is a general term used to describe the overall characteristic of visual perception made up of hue, saturation, and brightness. It is commonly used in everyday language and a variety of contexts.

  • What is your favorite color?
  • The flowers in the garden had a vivid range of colors.
tint

Tint involves a color variation produced by adding white to the base color, resulting in a lighter appearance. It is commonly mentioned in art, design, and fashion to denote lighter colors.

  • The room is painted in a soft tint of pink.
  • Adding a tint of white creates a pastel version of the color.
shade

Shade refers to a variation of a color made by adding black, making it darker. It is used when discussing different degrees of darkness of a particular color.

  • She prefers darker shades of blue.
  • The artist created different shades by mixing the paint with black.

Examples of usage

  • She decided to hue the fabric with a deep red dye.
  • The artist hued the painting with vibrant colors.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Science

  • Human eyes perceive colors due to light wavelengths, with different hues corresponding to different wavelengths.
  • Color perception can vary among individuals, which is known as color vision deficiency, showing how hues are signals that can sometimes differ in interpretation.
  • Artists use hue in color theory, where primary colors mix to create secondary hues, fundamentally influencing design and art.

Art

  • Artists have historically used specific hues to convey emotions; for instance, blues may evoke sadness while reds can symbolize passion.
  • The Impressionist movement emphasized the use of vibrant hues to capture light and movement, altering the way color is perceived in art.
  • In color mixing, the subtractive model combines hues like red, yellow, and blue to create depth and richness in artwork.

Psychology

  • Different hues can influence human emotions, with studies showing that warm hues like red and orange can create feelings of warmth and excitement.
  • Hues can affect productivity; for instance, blue is often used in work environments as it promotes calmness and focus.
  • Marketing specialists use specific hues to evoke desired consumer reactions, choosing colors carefully to influence purchasing decisions.

Pop Culture

  • Movies often use color grading, incorporating various hues to set a mood or tone, like the warm hues in romantic comedies compared to cooler shades in thrillers.
  • Popular themes in fashion often highlight certain hues of the season, influencing trends and public perception.
  • Famous songs like 'Rainbow' celebrate the beauty of different hues, connecting color to life experiences.

Origin of 'hue'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'hue' comes from the Old English 'hiw', meaning color or appearance.
  • It was first recorded in the English language as far back as the 14th century.
  • In Latin, 'color' and 'hue' are often linked; they both refer to the appearance of things.

The word 'hue' originated from the Old English word 'hīw' meaning form, appearance, or color. Over time, it evolved to represent a particular shade or color. In art and design, 'hue' is commonly used to describe the purest form of a color without any added black or white. It has become a versatile term used in various contexts to denote color, style, or manner.


See also: hues.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranked #10,019, this word falls into high-advanced vocabulary. It appears less frequently but is valuable for expressing precise meanings in specific contexts.