pink
/pɪŋk/ (bre, ipa) · /pɪŋk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈpiŋk/ (ame, mw)
pink — adjective
- pinkpositive
- pinkercomparative
- pinkestsuperlative
1. having the soft, washed-out red colour you get by mixing white into red — the ki
having the soft, washed-out red colour you get by mixing white into red — the kind of tone seen on roses, bubble gum, and many baby blankets.
Lina wore a pink dress to her cousin's birthday party.
attributive: pink + [clothing item]
The cherry trees in the park are covered with soft pink flowers.
collocation: pink flowers / pink blossoms
Marcus painted his daughter's bedroom walls a bright pink.
After running for the bus, Sarah's cheeks turned pink in the cold air.
The sky over the harbour glowed pink just before sunset.
用法筆記
Used both attributively (pink dress) and predicatively (her face went pink). Often paired with intensifiers like bright, hot, pale, or dusty to specify the shade.
常見錯誤
2. describing a person, party, or idea that leans a little towards socialism or the
describing a person, party, or idea that leans a little towards socialism or the political left, but not strongly so.
The newspaper accused the senator of holding pink views on health care.
attributive: pink + [political noun]
Critics dismissed the new tax plan as a pink experiment dressed up as reform.
often appears in critical or dismissive contexts
In the 1950s, many writers in Hollywood were labelled pink by the press.
Aunt Marta laughed and called her son's politics a bit pink for the family.
- left-leaning
neutral and current; safer in serious writing
- socialistic
more formal; describes ideas closer to socialism
- right-wing
opposite political direction
用法筆記
Often used by opponents to suggest mild socialist leanings without going as far as 'red' (communist). Mostly informal and somewhat dated; can sound dismissive or mocking.
常見錯誤
3. linked to the gay community — to its culture, spending power, or media — most of
linked to the gay community — to its culture, spending power, or media — most often used in marketing and journalism, since pink has long been a symbol of LGBT identity.
The hotel chain is keen to attract more of the pink pound from London tourists.
fixed expression: the pink pound / pink dollar (gay spending power)
Carlos writes a column for one of the city's most popular pink magazines.
attributive: pink + [media noun]
Local businesses are starting to advertise heavily in the pink press.
The mayor cut the ribbon at a new pink venue near the old theatre.
用法筆記
Almost always appears in fixed marketing or media phrases (pink pound, pink press, pink venue). Avoid as a general adjective for individual people; use 'gay' or 'LGBT' instead.
常見錯誤
pink — noun
- pinksingular
- pinksplural
1. the soft, light red colour you make by adding white to red — the colour of bubbl
the soft, light red colour you make by adding white to red — the colour of bubble gum, baby blankets, and many spring flowers.
Pink is Maya's favourite colour, so all her notebooks match.
uncountable: pink as a colour name
The artist mixed white into the red until she got a soft pink.
countable: a pink (a particular shade)
The bedroom walls were painted in three different pinks.
Carlos always dresses his baby daughter in pink and white.
The sunset painted the harbour in shades of orange and pink.
用法筆記
Uncountable when naming the colour in general (I love pink); countable when talking about specific shades (a soft pink, several pinks). The phrase 'in pink' means wearing or coloured pink.
常見錯誤
2. a small flowering plant from the carnation family, with sweet-scented blooms in
a small flowering plant from the carnation family, with sweet-scented blooms in red, white, or pink shades and slim grey-green leaves; also a single flower from this plant.
Grandma Rosa grows pinks along the path at the front of her cottage.
plural: pinks (the plants in a garden)
Maya picked a small bunch of white pinks for the kitchen table.
collocation: a bunch / bouquet of pinks
The old gardener showed the children how to grow pinks from seed.
A row of pinks lined the stone wall behind the church.
用法筆記
Almost always plural ('pinks') when referring to the plants growing in a garden. Belongs to the same family as the carnation (Dianthus), but is smaller and more delicate.
pink — verb
- pinkpresent simple I / you / we / they
- pinks3rd person singular
- pinking-ing form
- pinkedpast simple
1. of a car engine: to give off a sharp, high knocking sound, usually because the p
of a car engine: to give off a sharp, high knocking sound, usually because the petrol is igniting at the wrong moment in the cylinder.
The old taxi started to pink badly as Carlos drove up the steep hill.
intransitive: [engine] pinks
Cheap fuel can make even a well-maintained engine pink under heavy load.
common cause: cheap or low-grade fuel
The mechanic listened carefully as the motor began to pink at low speed.
If your engine pinks, switch to a higher-octane petrol the next time you fill up.
用法筆記
Mainly British; American mechanics usually say 'ping' or 'knock' for the same noise. Subject is almost always 'engine', 'motor', or a specific car. Rarely used in everyday conversation outside of mechanics or driving contexts.