colours
colours — noun
1. the different shades that objects, clothes, or light can show, such as red or bl
the different shades that objects, clothes, or light can show, such as red or blue
Tamar compared paint cards to choose warm kitchen colours.
collocation: warm kitchen colours
The sunset turned the lake into bands of orange and pink colours.
Xiu sorted the beads by colours before making bracelets.
These birds use bright colours to warn hungry animals away.
2. the lively beauty created when strong or many colours appear together
the lively beauty created when strong or many colours appear together
Meera planted marigolds to bring more colour to the front yard.
phrase: bring colour to [place]
The market square was full of colour after the lanterns went up.
Diego's scarf added a splash of colour to the grey platform.
After winter, fresh tulips gave the park back its colour.
- brightness
focuses more on light than beauty
- vividness
slightly more formal
用法筆記
Often appears in phrases like bring colour to, add colour to, or full of colour when a place feels visually livelier.
3. paint, dye, or another substance used to give something a chosen shade
paint, dye, or another substance used to give something a chosen shade
Felix mixed two cake colours to make a deeper green.
collocation: cake colours
The art teacher kept fabric colours in small glass jars.
Obi bought natural colours for the class batik project.
Keep the food colours away from the hot oven door.
用法筆記
This sense refers to colouring materials themselves, not to the appearance or beauty created by them.
4. the red or pink look that appears in a face from health, heat, or strong feeling
the red or pink look that appears in a face from health, heat, or strong feeling
After lunch, colour slowly returned to Christopher's face.
pattern: colour returned to somebody's face
Folake lost all colour when the fire alarm rang.
The long climb put a healthy colour into Sophia's cheeks.
A sudden colour rose in Tuan's cheeks after the applause.
- flush
usually a sudden red look
- complexion
broader and more neutral
用法筆記
Unlike sense 5, this sense can show embarrassment or shock as well as good health.
5. a fresher, healthier look in someone's face after illness or tiredness
a fresher, healthier look in someone's face after illness or tiredness
A week by the sea put colour back into Mert's cheeks.
pattern: put colour back into somebody's cheeks
The soup and sleep soon brought colour to the patient.
Regular walks gave Aunt Rosa more colour after winter.
Fresh mango juice put some colour into the tired boy's face.
用法筆記
Usually appears in phrases about helping someone look well again after sickness, tiredness, or stress.
6. details or energy that make something more vivid, lively, or interesting
details or energy that make something more vivid, lively, or interesting
Local jokes gave the guide's talk some colour.
pattern: give something some colour
A brass band added colour to the rainy street parade.
Obi's travel stories bring colour to every family dinner.
The festival posters give the station walls more colour.
用法筆記
Often refers to lively details, local character, or extra energy rather than visual beauty alone.
7. the usual skin shade someone has by nature, especially in discussion of race
the usual skin shade someone has by nature, especially in discussion of race
The survey asked about age, colour, and disability.
collocation: age, colour, and disability
Laws should protect people regardless of colour or religion.
The form never asks for a child's colour at registration.
The coach judged players by skill, not by colour.
用法筆記
This sense is used in legal, social, or policy contexts about race, not about fashion or paint.
8. people referred to in race-related discussion as belonging to non-white groups
people referred to in race-related discussion as belonging to non-white groups
The grant supports young artists of colour in rural towns.
phrase: artists of colour
A history teacher of colour led the museum tour.
The panel discussed how schools can better serve students of colour.
The festival reserved booths for small businesses run by people of colour.
用法筆記
Most often appears in the fixed expression people of colour or in similar respectful identity phrases.
9. an award from a school for representing an official sports team
an award from a school for representing an official sports team
Nia earned her hockey colours in her second term.
collocation: earn your hockey colours
The college gave colours to every student who made the first team.
Receiving rowing colours meant Farid could wear the special tie.
The notice board listed this year's new rugby colours.
用法筆記
In British school or university life, colours often include a badge, tie, or other sign of sporting honour.
10. the official banner used to represent a nation, a ship, or an armed unit
the official banner used to represent a nation, a ship, or an armed unit
Soldiers carried the regimental colours into the square.
collocation: regimental colours
The captain ordered the colours raised at sunrise.
Tourists stood still when the colours passed the gate.
The old photograph shows sailors saluting the colours.
用法筆記
This sense is common in military or ceremonial language, especially with regimental or national flags.
11. the identifying colours worn or displayed by a team, school, or other group
the identifying colours worn or displayed by a team, school, or other group
Fans filled the station in their club colours.
collocation: club colours
The bakery window was dressed in school colours for graduation week.
Mina painted her bike in her house colours before the race.
The scarf seller arranged rival colours on opposite shelves.
用法筆記
This sense is about shared identity markers, unlike sense 10, which refers to a formal flag.
colours — adjective
1. showing real shades instead of only black, white, or grey
showing real shades instead of only black, white, or grey
The brochure includes colour maps of every hiking route.
pattern: colour + noun
Our teacher showed a colour film about reef fish.
The shop printed the menu on a colour copier.
Tuan bought a colour monitor for his photo class.
- coloured
usually means having a colour, not specifically non-black-and-white media
- black-and-white
shows no colour information
文法句型
colour + noun
用法筆記
In British English, colour often comes before a noun in photography, printing, and screen contexts.
colours — verb
1. to change into a different shade, or to cause something to take that shade
to change into a different shade, or to cause something to take that shade
The evening sun coloured the snow a soft gold.
pattern: colour something + adjective
Tamar watched the clear broth colour red with chilli oil.
Rain coloured the old posters dark and streaky.
The cheap soap coloured Mia's white sleeves blue.
文法句型
something colours something
something colours + adjective
用法筆記
This sense covers both changing by itself and making another thing take on a new shade.
2. to fill a picture or shape with coloured marks using pens, pencils, paint, or si
to fill a picture or shape with coloured marks using pens, pencils, paint, or similar tools
Meera coloured the kite with three wax crayons.
pattern: colour + object + with tool
The children coloured paper masks before the parade.
Felix likes to colour maps while listening to history podcasts.
Please colour the border green and leave the stars white.
文法句型
colour + object + adjective
用法筆記
This is the everyday school or hobby sense for putting colour into a drawing or printed outline.
3. to have your face turn red from embarrassment or shyness
to have your face turn red from embarrassment or shyness
Xiu coloured at the praise from the stage.
pattern: colour at something
The new waiter coloured when he dropped a spoon.
Sophia coloured as her brother read the note aloud.
Christopher coloured after calling the principal by the wrong name.
文法句型
colour at something
colour when-clause
用法筆記
This sense is about a person's face becoming red because of emotion, not about paint or light.
4. to push someone's view of a person or thing in an unfair, usually unfavourable d
to push someone's view of a person or thing in an unfair, usually unfavourable direction
One bad delay coloured our view of the entire hotel.
pattern: colour somebody's view of something
The argument coloured Diego's memory of the trip.
Rumours coloured the voters' opinion before the debate even started.
Her rough first week coloured every later talk with the coach.
文法句型
something colours somebody's view of something
用法筆記
Usually describes a negative influence on judgement, memory, or opinion rather than a neutral effect.