crimson

SayKRIM-zuhn/ˈkɹɪmzən/

4 meanings of crimson

1
adjective
Of a deep red color, with a rich and intense shade.
The flag's crimson stripes had faded after years in the sun.
Autumn turned the maple leaves a brilliant crimson.
Similarscarlet, ruby, carmine, red
2
nouncountable or uncountable
A deep red shade that leans slightly toward blue.
The painter mixed a crimson with faint hints of violet.
Crimson has long been associated with royalty and wealth.
Similarcarmine, ruby, scarlet
3
verbintransitive
To turn crimson or deep red, especially as the face does when blushing.
She crimsoned at the unexpected compliment.
His face would crimson whenever she entered the room.
Similarblush, flush, redden, color
Oppositepale, blanch
4
verbtransitive
To dye or stain something a deep red color.
A spilled glass of wine can crimson a white tablecloth permanently.
The dyers crimsoned the wool before weaving it into rugs.
Similarredden, stain

Practice

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Origin

First recorded in late Middle English as "cremesyn", it came from obsolete French "cramoisin" or Old Spanish "cremesín", ultimately from Arabic "qirmiz", which came from Classical Persian "kirmist" and earlier Middle Persian. It is cognate with Sanskrit "kṛmija" and a doublet of "kermes".