Meaning & Definition of word "Colored"

Colored

/ˈkʌl.ərd/

verb:

  • 1. Past tense of color; to have applied color to something.
    • Example: He colored the picture with bright crayons.

adjective:

  • 1. Having color; not colorless or monochrome.
    • Example: She chose a colored dress for the party instead of a plain one.
  • 2. Characterized by an appearance of vivid color.
    • Example: The artist preferred to use colored pencils for their vibrant hues.
  • 3. Having a particular racial or ethnic background, often used in historical contexts.
    • Example: The civil rights movement was significant for colored individuals in the United States.
  • 4. Adorned or decorated with colors.
    • Example: The garden was filled with colored flowers in full bloom.

Etymology

Derived from the Old French 'colorer', from Latin 'color'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

colored in:

Filled with color, often used in the context of drawing.

colored glasses:

Glasses with tinted lenses.

colored man/woman:

An outdated term referring to a person of color.

Related Words

color:

The property of an object that is produced by the way it reflects or emits light.

colorful:

Full of colors; bright and vivid.

uncolored:

Not colored; transparent or without distinct color.

Slang Meanings of colored

Meaning: Referring to a person of color in a casual or informal context.

Example Sentence: He’s part of the colored community.

Meaning: Used in derogatory contexts, can refer to stereotypes.

Example Sentence: Don’t use colored slang; it’s outdated and disrespectful.