Meanings
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1
noun
a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects
The artist mixed carmine with white to paint the lips.
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2
adj
of a vivid, slightly purplish red color
A carmine ribbon stood out against the gray dress.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Through French carmin from Medieval Latin carminium, ultimately related to Arabic qirmiz, 'kermes or crimson dye,' and Persian words for the dye-producing insect. Carmine, crimson, and kermes belong to the same historical word family; the color name comes from the insect-derived pigment.