colorant

/ˈkʌlərənt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈkʌlərənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈkə-lə-rənt -lər-ənt/ (ame, mw)

colorant — noun

  • colorantsingular
  • colorantsplural

1. any material — for example a dye, pigment, or food additive — added to something

1.名詞C1
釋義

any material — for example a dye, pigment, or food additive — added to something else in order to change its color or keep it looking bright.

例句

Nadia chose a plant-based colorant to dye the silk scarf a soft rose pink.

noun + to-infinitive of purpose; common in textile and craft contexts

The bakery uses beetroot juice as a natural colorant in its pink birthday cakes.

collocation: natural colorant; pattern: use X as a colorant

同義詞
  • dye

    usually liquid; soaks into fibers or hair

  • pigment

    usually a fine powder mixed into paint, ink, or plastic

  • tint

    implies a light or subtle shade rather than a strong color

  • food coloring

    narrower — only the kind added to food and drink

文法句型

a colorant for [material]

natural/artificial colorant

用法筆記

Often appears on ingredient lists for food, cosmetics, hair products, and plastics. Frequently modified by 'natural', 'artificial', 'food', or a color name (e.g. 'red colorant').

常見錯誤

❌I added some color to the cake.' (when meaning the substance)
✅I added some colorant to the cake.
💡'color' is the visual quality; 'colorant' is the substance you add to create it.
❌colourant' in American writing
✅colorant
💡'colourant' is the British spelling; American texts use 'colorant'.