carmine

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a vivid purplish-red pigment or dye traditionally made from cochineal insects

   The artist mixed carmine with white to paint the lips.

2. 2
   adj

   of a vivid, slightly purplish red color

   A carmine ribbon stood out against the gray dress.

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.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images