yellowed
/ˈye-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce yellow (audio) dialectal ˈye-lər or ˈya-/ (ame, mw) · /ˈjel.əʊ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈjel.oʊ/ (ame, ipa)
yellowed — adjective
- yellowedpositive
- more yellowedcomparative
- most yellowedsuperlative
1. having a colour that is similar to that of a ripe lemon, the middle part of a su
having a colour that is similar to that of a ripe lemon, the middle part of a sunflower, or the inside of a hard-boiled egg.
Rachel bought a soft yellow scarf to match her winter coat.
A bright yellow school bus stopped at the corner of Elm Street every morning.
fixed expression: yellow school bus
The children drew yellow sunflowers and blue sky in their art class.
Lan hung yellow curtains in the kitchen to make the room feel warmer.
2. having become a pale or dull yellow over a period of time, usually because of ag
having become a pale or dull yellow over a period of time, usually because of ageing, sunlight, or physical damage.
The pages of the old book had turned yellow and brittle from sunlight.
result of ageing: paper yellowed + brittle from sunlight
Ravindra found a yellowed newspaper clipping in his grandmother's wooden chest.
The hospital curtains looked yellowed after years of strong sunlight and regular washing.
Hugo's white shirt had yellowed under the arms from sweat and deodorant.
Adina noticed the yellowed photograph still sitting on her uncle's dusty shelf.
- yellowing
suggests an ongoing process rather than a finished state: 'the yellowing pages of the book'
- discoloured
broader term for any unwanted colour change; not specific to yellow
- stained
implies a spotty or uneven yellowing caused by contact with a substance
用法筆記
Commonly used of paper, fabric, bone, teeth, and plastic. The cause (sunlight, age, smoke, damp) is often named nearby.
常見錯誤
3. an insulting and racist word that stereotypes a person of East Asian or Southeas
an insulting and racist word that stereotypes a person of East Asian or Southeast Asian heritage by referring to their skin colour. This word is extremely offensive and should never be used.
In the school cafeteria, a boy yelled 'yellowed!' at Jun's brother from South Korea.
concrete scenario: shows the term being used as an insult in a specific setting
Lan was hurt when a classmate called her grandmother a 'yellowed woman' on the bus.
Some history books from the 1940s used the racist term 'yellowed' to describe Chinese labourers.
Mr. Park showed a 1950s magazine using 'yellowed' to mock Chinese railway workers.
用法筆記
This is one of the most offensive words in modern English when directed at a person. Using it to describe someone's appearance or ethnicity is racist and causes serious harm. Never use this word to refer to a person or group of people.
常見錯誤
4. not having enough courage to face danger, a difficult situation, or a challenge;
not having enough courage to face danger, a difficult situation, or a challenge; easily frightened.
The other children called him yellow when he refused to climb the tall oak tree.
informal schoolyard insult
Chidi knew he would look yellow if he walked away from the argument at work.
Nobody wants to be called yellow when their friends are trying something dangerous.
In old gangster films, characters were called yellow if they ran away from a fight.
- brave
willing to face danger or pain; the direct opposite
用法筆記
Old-fashioned in modern English. The far more common term for this meaning is 'yellow' (adjective). 'Yellowed' in this sense is only found in older US texts and dialogue.
常見錯誤
yellowed — noun
1. the colour that people see in ripe lemons, egg yolks, and the middle part of a s
the colour that people see in ripe lemons, egg yolks, and the middle part of a sunflower.
The couple chose a pale yellow for the nursery walls to keep the room bright.
Little Yuna pointed at the bus and yelled 'yellow!' before her mother could ask.
everyday context: a child identifying the colour of a familiar object
Evelyn mixed white paint into the yellow to create a lighter shade for the fence.
The artist used bright yellow to draw attention to the centre of the painted flower.
yellowed — verb
- yellowedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- yelloweds3rd person singular
- yelloweding-ing form
- yellowededpast simple
1. to gradually change to a pale or dull yellow colour, or to cause something to ch
to gradually change to a pale or dull yellow colour, or to cause something to change in that way, usually as a result of age, light, or chemical reaction.
The hot summer sun had yellowed the white curtains on the kitchen window.
transitive: the sun yellowed the curtains
Eliska's lace wedding dress had yellowed inside the storage box after forty years.
intransitive: the dress yellowed (by itself)
Constant rain and damp air had yellowed the walls of the old basement room.
Walid left his white shirt on the line until the sun yellowed the collar.
The old newspaper articles had yellowed so badly that the words were hard to read.
文法句型
noun + yellow + (over time)
yellow + noun
用法筆記
Intransitive use (the paper yellowed) is more common than transitive (sunlight yellowed the paper). The past participle 'yellowed' is very frequently used as an adjective (see adjective sense 2).