rufous C2 Topic:Describing Qualities US /ˈruːfəs/ UK /ˈruːfəs/ See IPA manual Freq #138715 Meanings 1 adj reddish-brown or rust-colored, especially in descriptions of animal fur or plumage The bird was identified by the rufous feathers across its throat. 2 noun a rufous or reddish-brown color The butterfly's wings shaded from black at the edges to rufous near the body. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · reddish-brown or... reddish-brownrussetrusty 2 noun · a rufous or reddish-brown... russetrust brown Word family Derived forms rufescencerufousness Related forms ferruginouschestnutred Etymology Borrowed from Latin rufus ("red, reddish"). The adjective became especially common in zoological descriptions of rust-red or reddish-brown coats, feathers, and markings. Topics Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives External links Google Images Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary # rufous **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** adj, noun **IPA (US):** /ˈruːfəs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈruːfəs/ **Frequency rank:** 138715 ## Meanings 1. reddish-brown or rust-colored, especially in descriptions of animal fur or plumage 2. a rufous or reddish-brown color ## Examples - The bird was identified by the rufous feathers across its throat. - The butterfly's wings shaded from black at the edges to rufous near the body. ## Synonyms - reddish-brown - russet - rusty ## Derived Forms - rufescence - rufousness ## Related Forms - ferruginous - chestnut - red ## Etymology Borrowed from Latin rufus ("red, reddish"). The adjective became especially common in zoological descriptions of rust-red or reddish-brown coats, feathers, and markings. ## Topics - Describing Qualities - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown