Purple
/ˈpɜːr.pəl/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A color of deep red and blue.
The artist chose purple as the predominant color in her painting.
A shade or tint of purple.
He decided to paint the walls in a soft purple.
adjective
Of a color intermediate between red and blue; a deep reddish-blue color.
She wore a beautiful purple dress to the party.
Associated with royalty, luxury, and wealth.
The purple banners hung throughout the castle to signify the royal presence.
Used to describe something that is dark or gloomy.
The sky turned a purple hue as the storm approached.
Etymology
Middle English purpel, from Old French purpeul, from Latin purpura.
Common Phrases and Expressions
purple heart
A medal awarded to U.S. military personnel wounded in action.
purple prose
Stylized or excessive writing that is melodramatic or ornate.
to see red
To become very angry; used in conjunction with purple to imply extreme rage.
Related Words
violet
A color with a wavelength of light that is shorter than blue and longer than ultraviolet.
lavender
A pale purple color, often derived from the lavender flower.
indigo
A deep color between blue and violet in the spectrum.
Slang Meanings
To be purple
After the party, he was feeling purple, mixing fun with exhaustion.
Purple passion
She has a purple passion for painting.