coloring

Pluralcolorings

1. 1
   dye (substance)nouncountable or uncountable

   A substance added to impart color to food, fabric, or other materials.

   Manufacturers often use natural coloring derived from beets and turmeric.

   The artificial coloring in the drink was banned in several countries.

   Similarpigment

   Note

   On ingredient labels and in food regulation the word turns countable: "no artificial flavorings or colorings," "food dyes and colorings." In the plural it names particular additives, each one listed separately. Used uncountably, as in natural coloring, it names the stuff in general. Pigment is its nearest synonym, and its regular pairing with flavorings marks the food-label register.

2. 2
   noununcountable

   The act or process of applying color to something.

   The coloring of the manuscript's initials was painstaking work.

   Industrial coloring of textiles relies on large dyeing vats.

   Similardyeing, tinting, painting

   Oppositebleaching

3. 3
   natural shadesnoununcountable

   The natural color and shading shown by a person, animal, or thing.

   The fox's reddish coloring blends well with autumn leaves.

   His pale coloring suggested he had been ill for weeks.

   Similarcoloration

4. 4
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of color.

   He spent the evening coloring the maps for his project.

   They were coloring the eggs when the phone rang.

   Note

   One spelling serves as both participle and gerund, and the verb behind it ranges from crayons to blushing. Children can spend an afternoon coloring with no object at all. A face coloring with embarrassment has gone red, and a smoker coloring a meerschaum pipe is darkening it. The gerund sits close to the noun for the process, but it still takes a direct object: coloring maps, not the coloring of maps.

5. 5
   adjective

   Having the function of adding or imparting color to something.

   The coloring compound binds to the fibers during the dyeing process.

   Each coloring additive must be approved before use in food.

6. 6
   adding feelingadjectivefiguratively

   Lending vividness, character, or a particular slant to how something is perceived.

   The author's coloring asides give the memoir its warm, personal feel.

   A few coloring phrases turned the plain account into a vivid tale.

7. 7
   nounusually singular

   A misleading appearance put on something, or an unwanted change from the normal color.

   The report had a coloring of objectivity that disguised its bias.

   A faint brown coloring had crept across the marble over the years.

   Similarveneer, semblance, guise, gloss, discoloration

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