colours

1. 1
   shadesnoun

   Plural of colour.

   By late October the woods were full of reds, golds and browns, colours that lasted barely a fortnight.

   The bakery uses only natural colours in its cakes, mostly beetroot and turmeric.

2. 2
   team kitnoun

   A distinctive kit, badge or set of colours worn as a sign of the team, club, school or owner someone belongs to.

   The jockey carried the owner's colours to a famous win at Cheltenham.

   He spent ten years playing in the colours of his home-town club.

   UsageUsually with a possessive or in: the owner's colours, school colours, playing in the colours of a club.

   Similarkit, strip, silks

3. 3
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present of colour.

   His time as a soldier colours everything he writes about the war.

   The pastry colours quickly in a hot oven, so check it after ten minutes.

   UsageIn cooking it often has no object: the pastry colours quickly, meaning it turns golden.

4. 4
   ship's flagnoun

   On a ship, the flag flown at the stern to show the country the vessel belongs to.

   After two hours of fighting, the frigate struck her colours and surrendered.

   The yacht was flying Spanish colours when it entered the marina.

   UsageOften in phrases used figuratively: nail your colours to the mast (take a firm stand), sail under false colours, show your true colours.

   Note

   Aboard ship this is the usual word for the national flag at the stern, and it has given English several phrases. To strike your colours is to haul the flag down in surrender; to sail under false colours is to fly another country's flag to deceive; to nail your colours to the mast is to declare where you stand and refuse to back down. Source

   Checked 4 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

   • A ship's colours are its national flag, flown from the stern. en.wiktionary.org
   • The nautical meaning has produced English phrases. en.wikipedia.org
   • Striking a ship's colours means lowering its flag to signal surrender. en.wikipedia.org
   • Sailing under false colours involves flying a deceptive flag. en.wikipedia.org
   • Nailing one's colours to the mast means declaring one's position and committing to defend it; the expression derives from naval practice. en.wiktionary.org

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