burgundy

Pluralburgundies

1. 1
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A dark red color tinged with purple, resembling that of red Burgundy wine.

   The designer upholstered the chairs in a sumptuous burgundy.

   Autumn leaves deepened from scarlet into burgundy.

   Note

   A color word that began as a wine name used before a noun: a burgundy cloth was cloth the color of the wine, and by 1881 the shade had a name of its own. As a noun it is usually uncountable, but it becomes countable when shades are compared, as in deep burgundies or a warm burgundy.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having a deep purplish-red color resembling that of Burgundy wine.

   The velvet drapes were a rich burgundy that warmed the room.

   His burgundy leather armchair anchored the study.

   Note

   The same shade put to work directly before a noun. Texas Monthly in 1981 describes a private showroom with burgundy carpeting. Like most color adjectives, it compares with more and most rather than -er and -est, so the forms are more burgundy and most burgundy.

3. 3
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Alternative letter-case form of Burgundy.

   The sommelier recommended pairing the duck with a glass of burgundy.

   She savored her burgundy slowly as the evening wore on.

   Note

   The wine named for its region, written small. The place name Burgundy gave the phrase Burgundy wine, and the phrase shortened to the single word. Like most drink names it works two ways: uncountable for the drink itself (a glass of burgundy) and countable for kinds or bottles, with the plural burgundies. The capitalized spelling remains the standard way to name the wine.

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