A1 (Basic)

Example:

green beans

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Oxford Essential Dictionary

adjective (greener, greenest)

1 with the colour of leaves and grass:
My brother has green eyes.
a dark green shirt

2 covered with grass or other plants:
green fields

3 connected with protecting the environment or the natural world:
green products (= that do not damage the environment)

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

green

I. green¹ S1 W2 /ɡriːn/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑green, ↑greenery, greens, the greening; adjective: ↑green, ↑greenish; verb: ↑green]
[Language: Old English; Origin: grene]
1. COLOUR having the colour of grass or leaves:
beautiful green eyes
Raw coffee beans are green in colour.
dark/light/pale/bright green
a dark green dress ⇨ ↑bottle green, ↑lime green, ↑pea green, ⇨ olive green at ↑olive(3)
2. GRASSY covered with grass, trees, bushes etc:
green fields
3. FRUIT/PLANT not yet ready to be eaten, or very young:
The bananas are still green.
tiny green shoots of new grass
4. ENVIRONMENT
a) (also Green) [only before noun] connected with the environment or its protection:
green issues such as the greenhouse effect and global warming
He was an early champion of green politics.
b) harming the environment as little as possible:
We need to develop greener cleaning products.
The industry has promised to go green (=change so that it harms the environment less).
5. WITHOUT EXPERIENCE informal young and lacking experience SYN naive:
I was pretty green then; I had a lot of things to learn.
6. ILL informal looking pale and unhealthy because you are ill:
George looked a bit green the next morning.
look green about/around the gills (=look pale and ill)
7. green with envy wishing very much that you had something that someone else has
8. the green-eyed monster literary ↑jealousy – often used humorously
9. have green fingers British English, have a green thumb American English to be good at making plants grow
10. the green stuff American English informal money
—greenness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ environmentally friendly not harmful to the environment: Cycling is very environmentally friendly. | environmentally friendly holidays | Is there such a thing as an environmentally friendly car?
▪ eco-friendly [usually before noun] not harmful to the environment – used especially about products: We always try to use eco-friendly cleaning products. | eco-friendly coffins made from newspapers
▪ green [usually before noun] not harmful to the environment – used especially in the following phrases: green products | green technology | green energy | It was voted the greenest building in Britain.
▪ clean [usually before noun] clean fuels or forms of energy do not release any harmful substances into the atmosphere: We need cleaner fuels for cars and other road vehicles. | clean energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines
▪ renewable renewable energy comes from sources that can be easily replaced naturally, so that there is always more available: The building is heated using renewable energy from the sun. | The government needs to invest more in renewable energy sources. | Wind power is renewable and produces no greenhouse gases during operation.
▪ sustainable using the earth’s resources, without causing damage to the environment – used especially about farming, ways of living, and development: The flowers are produced to high environmental standards using sustainable farming methods. | Many people want to lead more sustainable lifestyles and to conserve the planet’s resources. | sustainable use of the world’s resources
▪ carbon-neutral balancing the amount of carbon gases that you put into the earth’s atmosphere with other activities that will effectively reduce the amount of carbon gases, for example by planting trees: a carbon-neutral company | Stirling is aiming to become the UK’s first carbon neutral city. | All new homes will be carbon-neutral.
▪ low-carbon [usually before noun] producing only a small amount of carbon: Research is being done into the development of low-carbon electricity. | We will need to have a low-carbon economy.
▪ low-energy [usually before noun] low-energy buildings and lightbulbs use very little energy: Position is a key factor in the design of a low-energy house.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

green

green [green greens greened greening greener greenest] adjective, noun, verb [ɡriːn] [ɡriːn]

adjective (green·er, green·est)

COLOUR
1. having the colour of grass or the leaves of most plants and trees
• green beans

• Wait for the light to turn green (= on traffic lights).

COVERED WITH GRASS

2. covered with grass or other plants
• green fields/hills

• After the rains, the land was green with new growth.

FRUIT

3. not yet ready to eat

• green tomatoes

POLITICS

4. concerned with the protection of the environment; supporting the protection of the environment as a political principle
• green politics
• Try to adopt a greener lifestyle.

• the Green Party

PERSON

5. (informal) (of a person) young and lacking experience

• The new trainees are still very green.

6. (of a person or their skin) being a pale colour, as if the person is going to vomit
• It was a rough crossing and most of the passengers looked distinctly green.
more at the grass is (always) greener on the other side (of the fence) at grass _n.
Word Origin:
Old English grēne (adjective), grēnian (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch groen, German grün, also to grass and grow.
Example Bank:
• an olive green carpet
• the lush green grass
• wearing an emerald green dress
• It was a rough crossing and most of the passengers looked distinctly green.
Idiom: green with envy

Derived Words: greening ▪ greenness

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

green / ɡriːn / adjective (COLOUR)

A1 of a colour between blue and yellow; of the colour of grass:

green vegetables

greenness / ˈɡriːn.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being green:

What first struck her when she arrived in England was the greenness of the countryside.

green / ɡriːn / adjective (POLITICAL)

B2 relating to the protection of the environment:

green politics/issues

a green campaigner/activist

the Green Party

go green to do more to protect nature and the environment:

The Chancellor proposed a crackdown on car and plane emissions, and the introduction of tax incentives to go green.

greenness / ˈɡriːn.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being green:

What first struck her when she arrived in England was the greenness of the countryside.

green / ɡriːn / adjective (PLANTS)

B1 covered with grass, trees, and other plants:

the green hills of Ireland

greenness / ˈɡriːn.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being green:

What first struck her when she arrived in England was the greenness of the countryside.

green / ɡriːn / adjective (NOT READY)

(especially of fruit) not ready to eat, or (of wood) not dry enough to use:

green bananas/tomatoes

greenness / ˈɡriːn.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being green:

What first struck her when she arrived in England was the greenness of the countryside.

green / ɡriːn / adjective (NOT EXPERIENCED)

not experienced or trained:

I was very green when I started working there.

greenness / ˈɡriːn.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being green:

What first struck her when she arrived in England was the greenness of the countryside.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

green

/gri:n/
(greens, greener, greenest)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Green is the colour of grass or leaves.
...shiny red and green apples...
Yellow and green together make a pale green.
COLOUR

2.
A place that is green is covered with grass, plants, and trees and not with houses or factories.
Cairo has only thirteen square centimetres of green space for each inhabitant.
ADJ
• green‧ness
...the lush greenness of the river valleys.
N-UNCOUNT

3.
Green issues and political movements relate to or are concerned with the protection of the environment.
The power of the Green movement in Germany has made that country a leader in the drive to recycle more waste materials.
ADJ: ADJ n

4.
If you say that someone or something is green, you mean they harm the environment as little as possible.
...trying to persuade governments to adopt greener policies...
ADJ
• green‧ness
A Swiss company offers to help environmental investors by sending teams round factories to ascertain their greenness.
N-UNCOUNT

5.
Greens are members of green political movements.
The Greens see themselves as a radical alternative to the two major British political parties.
N-COUNT: usu pl

6.
A green is a smooth, flat area of grass around a hole on a golf course.
...the 18th green.
N-COUNT

7.
A green is an area of land covered with grass, especially in a town or in the middle of a village.
...the village green.
N-COUNT

8.
Green is used in the names of places that contain or used to contain an area of grass.
...Bethnal Green.
N-IN-NAMES: n N

9.
You can refer to the cooked leaves of vegetables such as spinach or cabbage as greens.
N-PLURAL

10.
If you say that someone is green, you mean that they have had very little experience of life or a particular job.
He was a young lad, very green, very immature.
ADJ

11.
If you say that someone is green with envy, you mean that they are very envious indeed.
PHRASE: v-link PHR

12.
If someone has green fingers, they are very good at gardening and their plants grow well. (BRIT; in AM, use a green thumb)
You don’t need green fingers to fill your home with lush leaves.
PHRASE

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

green

¹green /ˈgriːn/ adj green·er; -est
1 : having the color of growing grass
• green leaves
• a green sweater
2 a : covered by green grass or other plants
• green fields
b : consisting of green plants or of the leaves of plants
• a green salad
3 : feeling envy - usually used in the phrase green with envy
• His brother's success made him green with envy.
4 a : not ripe yet
• green tomatoes
b : not having training, knowledge, or experience
• green troops
• When she arrived at the company she was still very green but eager to learn.
5 informal : having a pale or sick appearance
• Our flight hit some turbulence, and half the passengers started turning green.
- often used in the phrase green around/about the gills
• The passengers were looking green around the gills.
6 : trying to protect or meant to protect the natural world : concerned with protecting the environment
• She only buys products from green companies.
• companies that use green practices [=companies that do things in a way that helps to protect the environment]
• finding greener methods of waste disposal
greener pastures
- see ¹pasture
- green·ish /ˈgriːnɪʃ/ adj
• greenish eyes
- green·ness /ˈgriːnnəs/ noun [noncount]
• the greenness of the leaves/troops

yellow

yellow [adjective] (COLOUR)

/ˈjel.oʊ/

/ˈjel.əʊ/

Example:

She was dressed in yellow.

having the colour of butter or the middle part of an egg

Persian equivalent:

Example:

She was dressed in yellow.

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Oxford Essential Dictionary

yellow

adjective
with the colour of a lemon or of butter:
She was wearing a yellow shirt.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

yellow

I. yel‧low¹ S2 W3 /ˈjeləʊ $ -loʊ/ BrE AmE adjective
[Language: Old English; Origin: geolu]
1. having the colour of butter or the middle part of an egg:
yellow flowers ⇨ ↑chrome yellow, ⇨ lemon yellow at ↑lemon², ⇨ primrose yellow at ↑primrose(2)
2. not polite an offensive way of describing the skin colour of people from parts of Asia
3. (also yellow-bellied) informal not brave SYN cowardly

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

yellow

yel·low [yellow yellows yellowed yellowing yellower yellowest] adjective, noun, verb [ˈjeləʊ] [ˈjeloʊ]

adjective (yel·lower, yel·lowest)
1. having the colour of lemons or butter
• pale yellow flowers

• a bright yellow waterproof jacket

2. (taboo) an offensive word used to describe the light brown skin of people from some E Asian countries

3. (informal, disapproving) easily frightened
Syn: cowardly
Word Origin:
Old English geolu, geolo, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch geel and German gelb, also to gold.
Example Bank:
• Her teeth were rather yellow.
• She wore a pale yellow dress.

Derived Word: yellowness

noun uncountable, countable
the colour of lemons or butter
• She was dressed in yellow.
• the reds and yellows of the trees
Word Origin:

Old English geolu, geolo, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch geel and German gelb, also to gold.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

yellow / ˈjel.əʊ / / -oʊ / adjective (COLOUR)

A1 of a colour like that of a lemon or gold or the sun:

a bright yellow flower/T-shirt

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

yellow

/jeloʊ/
(yellows, yellowing, yellowed)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is yellow is the colour of lemons, butter, or the middle part of an egg.
The walls have been painted bright yellow...
COLOUR

2.
If something yellows, it becomes yellow in colour, often because it is old.
The flesh of his cheeks seemed to have yellowed...
She sat scanning the yellowing pages.
VERB: V, V-ing

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹yel·low /ˈjɛloʊ/ adj yel·low·er; -est [or more ~; most ~]
1 : having the color of the sun or of ripe lemons
• a yellow car
• The raincoat was yellow.
2 informal : afraid in a way that makes you unable to do what is right or expected : cowardly
• He was too yellow to stand up and fight.
3 always used before a noun : containing news that is meant to shock people and that is not true or is only partly true
• yellow journalism

orange

orange [adjective]

/ˈɔːr.ɪndʒ/

/ˈɒr.ɪndʒ/

Example:

an orange shirt

a colour that is between red and yellow

Persian equivalent:

Example:

an orange shirt

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Oxford Essential Dictionary

orange

adjective
with a colour that is between red and yellow:
orange paint

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

2. [uncountable] a colour that is between red and yellow:
a bright shade of orange
—orange adjective:
an orange shirt

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

adjective
1. bright reddish-yellow in colour
• yellow and orange flames

• There was a warm orange glow in the sky.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

orange / ˈɒr.ɪndʒ / / ˈɔːr- / adjective

A1 of a colour between red and yellow:

The setting sun filled the sky with a deep orange glow.

orangeness / -nəs / noun [ U ]

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

orange

/ɒrɪndʒ, AM ɔ:r-/
(oranges)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is orange is of a colour between red and yellow.
...men in bright orange uniforms.
COLOUR

2.
An orange is a round juicy fruit with a thick, orange coloured skin.
...orange trees.
...fresh orange juice.
N-VAR: oft N n

3.
Orange is a drink that is made from or tastes of oranges.
...vodka and orange.
N-UNCOUNT

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

2 : a color between red and yellow that is like the color of fire and carrots - see color picture
compare apples and/to/with oranges
- see ¹compare
- orange adj
• an orange flame
• He was wearing an orange shirt.
- or·ang·ish /ˈɑrɪnʤɪʃ, ˈorɪnʤɪʃ/ adj
• the cat's orangish fur

gray

gray [adjective] (COLOUR)

/ɡreɪ/

Example:

gray hair

the colour of dark clouds, neither black nor white

Persian equivalent:

Example:

gray hair

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

black and white and grey

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

¹gray US or chiefly Brit grey /ˈgreɪ/ adj gray·er; -est
1 : having a color between black and white : having a color that is like the color of smoke
• a gray sweater/suit
• gray hair
2 : having gray hair
• What will you do when you are old and gray?
• My friends have all gone gray.
3 : lacking brightness: such as
a : cloudy and dark
• It was a gray winter day.
• a cold, gray dawn
b : very boring or ordinary
• leading a gray existence
c : having or showing little life or energy
• the gray faces of the people in the crowd
- gray·ness US or chiefly Brit grey·ness noun [noncount]
• the grayness of the dawn

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

gray

I. gray /ɡreɪ/ BrE AmE
the usual American spelling of ↑grey
II. grey² BrE AmE British English, gray American English noun
[uncountable and countable] the colour of dark clouds, neither black nor white:
Do you have these skirts in grey?
dull greys and browns
III. grey³ BrE AmE British English, gray American English verb
[intransitive] if someone greys, their hair becomes grey:
Jim was greying a little at the temples.
a full head of greying hair

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

grey

grey [grey greys greyed greying greyer greyest] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually gray) adjective, noun, verb [ɡreɪ] [ɡreɪ]

adjective
1. having the colour of smoke or ashes
• grey eyes/hair
• wisps of grey smoke

• a grey suit

2. not usually before noun having grey hair

• He's gone very grey.

3. (of the sky or weather) dull; full of clouds
• grey skies

• I hate these grey days.

4. (of a person's skin colour) pale and dull, because they are ill/sick, tired or sad

• The next morning she looked very grey and hollow-eyed.

5. without interest or variety; making you feel sad

• Life seems grey and pointless without him.

6. (disapproving) not interesting or attractive

• The company was full of faceless grey men who all looked the same.

7. only before noun connected with old people
• the grey vote
• grey power
Word Origin:
Old English grǣg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grauw and German grau.
Example Bank:
• She was completely grey by the age of thirty.
• The sky looks very grey. I think it's going to rain.
• a light grey suit
• He'd turned quite grey.
• The old man's beard was mostly grey.
• His face was grey with pain.
• It is thought of as a city of grey bureaucracy.
• Ours is a company that isn't run by grey men in suits.
• She had to talk to some grey under-secretary from the Ministry.

Derived Word: greyness

noun
1. uncountable, countable the colour of smoke or ashes
• the dull grey of the sky

• dressed in grey

2. countable a grey or white horse
• She's riding the grey.
Word Origin:

Old English grǣg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grauw and German grau.

verb intransitive (of hair)
to become grey
• His hair was greying at the sides.
• a tall woman with greying hair

Word Origin:

Old English grǣg, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch grauw and German grau.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

grey ( US usually gray ) / ɡreɪ / adjective (COLOUR)

A1 of the colour that is a mixture of black and white, the colour of rain clouds:

a grey sky

C2 having hair that has become grey or white, usually because of age:

He started to go/turn grey in his mid-forties.

B2 describes the weather when there are a lot of clouds and little light:

Night turned into morning, grey and cold.

greyness ( US usually grayness ) / ˈɡreɪ.nəs / noun [ U ]

grey ( US usually gray ) / ɡreɪ / adjective (BORING)

C1 boring and sad:

He saw a grey future stretch ahead of him.

greyness ( US usually grayness ) / ˈɡreɪ.nəs / noun [ U ]

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

grey

/greɪ/
(greyer, greyest)

Frequency: The word is one of the 1500 most common words in English.

Note: in AM, use 'gray'

1.
Grey is the colour of ashes or of clouds on a rainy day.
...a grey suit.
COLOUR

2.
You use grey to describe the colour of people’s hair when it changes from its original colour, usually as they get old.
...my grey hair...
Eddie was going grey.
ADJ

3.
If the weather is grey, there are many clouds in the sky and the light is dull.
It was a grey, wet April Sunday.
ADJ
• grey‧ness
...winter’s greyness.
N-UNCOUNT

4.
If you describe a situation as grey, you mean that it is dull, unpleasant, or difficult.
Brazilians look gloomily forward to a New Year that even the president admits will be grey and cheerless.
= bleak
ADJ
• grey‧ness
In this new world of greyness there is an attempt to remove all risks.
N-UNCOUNT

5.
If you describe someone or something as grey, you think that they are boring and unattractive, and very similar to other things or other people.
...little grey men in suits.
ADJ [disapproval]
• grey‧ness
Journalists are frustrated by his apparent greyness.
N-UNCOUNT: with supp

6.
Journalists sometimes use grey to describe things concerning old people.
There was further evidence of grey consumer power last week, when Ford revealed a car designed with elderly people in mind.
ADJ

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

black

black [adjective] (COLOUR)

/blæk/

Example:

a black and white photo

having the darkest colour, like coal or night

Persian equivalent:

Example:

a black and white photo

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

black and white and grey

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

adjective (blacker, blackest)

1 with the colour of the sky at night:
a black dog

2 belonging to a race of people with dark skins:
Martin Luther King was a famous black leader.

3 without milk:
black coffee

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

black

I. black¹ S1 W1 /blæk/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative blacker, superlative blackest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: blæc]
1. COLOUR having the darkest colour, like coal or night:
a black evening dress
jet/inky black (=very dark)
jet black hair
2. NO LIGHT very dark because there is no light:
It was still pitch black (=very dark) out.
3. PEOPLE (also Black)
a) belonging to the race of people who originally came from Africa and who have dark brown skin ⇨ white:
Over half the students are black.
b) [only before noun] relating to black people:
politics from a black perspective
Black and Asian music
4. DRINK [only before noun] black coffee or tea does not have milk in it OPP white:
Black coffee, no sugar, please.
5. DIRTY informal very dirty
be black with soot/dirt/age etc
6. WITHOUT HOPE sad and without hope for the future:
the blackest period of European history
a mood of black despair
It’s been another black day for the car industry, with more job losses announced.
7. HUMOUR making jokes about serious subjects, especially death:
a very black joke
8. ANGRY [only before noun] full of feelings of anger or hate ⇨ blackly:
Denise gave me a black look.
9. a black mark (against somebody) if there is a black mark against you, someone has a bad opinion of you because of something you have done
10. not be as black as you are painted not to be as bad as people say you are
11. BAD literary very bad:
black deeds

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

black

black [black blacks blacked blacking blacker blackest] adjective, noun, verb [blæk] [blæk]

adjective (black·er, black·est)

COLOUR
1. having the very darkest colour, like night or coal
• a shiny black car

• black storm clouds

WITH NO LIGHT

2. without light; completely dark

• a black night

PEOPLE

3. (also Black) belonging to a race of people who have dark skin; connected with black people
• a black woman writer

• black culture Black is the word most widely used and generally accepted in Britain. In the US the currently accepted term is African American.

TEA/COFFEE

4. without milk
• Two black coffees, please.

compare white

DIRTY

5. very dirty; covered with dirt
• chimneys black with smoke

• Go and wash your hands; they're absolutely black!

ANGRY

6. full of anger or hatred
• She's been in a really black mood all day.

• Rory shot her a black look.

DEPRESSING

7. without hope; very depressing
• The future looks pretty black.

• It's been another black day for the north-east with the announcement of further job losses.

EVIL

8. (literary) evil or immoral

• black deeds/lies

HUMOUR

9. dealing with unpleasant or terrible things, such as murder, in a humorous way
• ‘Good place to bury the bodies,’ she joked with black humour.
• The play is a black comedy.
see also blackly
more at the pot calling the kettle black at pot _n.
Word Origin:
Old English blæc, of Germanic origin.
Thesaurus:
black adj.
1.
• It's pitch black outside tonight.
dark • • unlit •
Opp: light
a black/dark night
go black/dark
pitch black/dark
2. (especially BrE)
• a black girl
African American • • non-white • • mixed race • |AmE of color •
black/African American/non-white/mixed race people
people of mixed race/color
black/African American culture
Black or African American? Black is the mostly widely used and accepted term in Britain; a black person from the US is African American. Black can also be used as a noun, but it is only acceptable in the plural. Use the adjective for singular use
• equality for blacks and whites
• a black man/woman

Example Bank:
• It was pitch black outside.
• She had beautiful jet-black hair.
• The sky looks very black.
• His hands were all black from messing with the car.
• He denounced these acts as ‘black deeds‘.
• It's been another black day for the north-east with the announcement of further job losses.
• My head banged on a rock and everything went black.
• The future looks pretty black, I'm afraid.
• The wind and rain intensified the black darkness outside.
• Through the black night came the sound of thunder.
• a black girl
• a black man/woman

• equality for blacks and whites

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

black / blæk / adjective (COLOUR)

A1 having the darkest colour there is, like the colour of coal or of a very dark night:

black shoes

black / blæk / adjective (PEOPLE)

Black A2 relating or belonging to people with black or dark brown skin, especially people who live in Africa or whose family originally came from Africa:

Black culture

Black Americans

black / blæk / adjective (COFFEE/TEA)

without any milk or cream added:

a cup of strong black coffee

I like my tea black, with sugar.

black / blæk / adjective (BAD)

without hope:

The future looked black.

literary bad or evil:

a black-hearted villain

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

black

/blæk/
(blacker, blackest, blacks, blacking, blacked)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is black is of the darkest colour that there is, the colour of the sky at night when there is no light at all.
She was wearing a black coat with a white collar...
He had thick black hair...
I wear a lot of black...
He was dressed all in black.
COLOUR

2.
A black person belongs to a race of people with dark skins, especially a race from Africa.
He worked for the rights of black people...
...the traditions of the black community.
ADJ

3.
Black people are sometimes referred to as blacks. This use could cause offence.
There are about thirty-one million blacks in the US.
N-COUNT: usu pl

4.
Black coffee or tea has no milk or cream added to it.
A cup of black tea or black coffee contains no calories...
I drink coffee black.
ADJ: ADJ n, v n ADJ

5.
If you describe a situation as black, you are emphasizing that it is very bad indeed.
It was, he said later, one of the blackest days of his political career...
The future for the industry looks even blacker.
ADJ [emphasis]

6.
If someone is in a black mood, they feel very miserable and depressed.
Her mood was blacker than ever.
ADJ

7.
Black humour involves jokes about sad or difficult situations.
‘So you can all go over there and get shot,’ he said, with the sort of black humour common among British troops here...
It’s a black comedy of racial prejudice, mistaken identity and thwarted expectations.
ADJ: usu ADJ n

8.
People who believe in black magic believe that it is possible to communicate with evil spirits.
He was also alleged to have conducted black magic ceremonies...
The King was unjustly accused of practising the black arts.
ADJ: ADJ n

9.
If you say that someone is black and blue, you mean that they are badly bruised.
Whenever she refused, he’d beat her black and blue...
Bud’s nose was still black and blue.
PHRASE: usu PHR after v, v-link PHR

10.
If a person or an organization is in the black, they do not owe anyone any money.
Until his finances are in the black I don’t want to get married.
≠ in the red
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v

11.
If someone gives you a black look, they look at you in a way that shows that they are very angry about something.
Passing my stall, she cast black looks at the amount of stuff still unsold.
PHRASE: N inflects, usu PHR after v

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹black /ˈblæk/ adj black·er; -est
1 a : having the very dark color of coal or the night sky
• black ink
• a black dress
b : very dark because there is no light
• a black night
2 or Black : of or relating to a race of people who have dark skin and who come originally from Africa
• black people
• black culture
✦In the U.S., the term African-American is often preferred over black when referring to Americans of African descent.
3 : very dirty
• His hand were black with grime.
4 : served without cream or milk
• black coffee
5 literary : evil or wicked
• a black deed
- see also black art, black magic
6 a : very sad or hopeless : bleak
• The outlook was black.
• When they heard the terrible news, they were filled with black despair.
b : very tragic or unhappy
• That was a black day in our country's history.
7 : marked by anger or hatred
• A black [=very angry] look darkened his face.
• black resentment
• a black mood
8
- used to describe humor that deals with subjects which are usually regarded as very serious or unpleasant
• The film is a black comedy set in a funeral home.
• black humor
- black·ly adv
• a blackly funny/comic/humorous movie
- black·ness noun [noncount]
• the blackness of the night

red

red [adjective]

/red/

Example:

She often wears red clothes.

having the colour of blood

Persian equivalent:

Example:

She often wears red clothes.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

red

adjective (redder, reddest)

1 having the colour of blood:
She's wearing a bright red dress.
red wine

2 Red hair has a colour between red, orange and brown.

>> red noun:
Lucy was dressed in red.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

red

I. red¹ S1 W1 /red/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative redder, superlative reddest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: read]
1. COLOUR having the colour of blood:
We painted the door bright red.
a red balloon ⇨ ↑blood-red, ⇨ cherry red at ↑cherry(3), ⇨ ↑scarlet
2. HAIR hair that is red has an orange-brown colour
3. FACE if you go red, your face becomes a bright pink colour, especially because you are embarrassed or angry
go/turn red
Every time you mention his name, she goes bright red.
4. WINE red wine is a red or purple colour ⇨ white
5. like a red rag to a bull British English (also like waving a red flag in front of a bull American English) very likely to make someone angry or upset:
Just mentioning his ex-wife’s name was like a red rag to a bull.
6. roll out the red carpet/give somebody the red carpet treatment to give special treatment to an important visitor
7. not one red cent American English informal used to emphasize that you mean no money at all:
I wouldn’t give him one red cent for that car.
8. POLITICS informal ↑communist or extremely ↑left-wing political views – used to show disapproval
—redness noun [uncountable]
⇨ paint the town red at ↑paint²(5)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

red

red [red reds redder reddest] adjective, noun [red] [red]

adjective (red·der, red·dest)
1. having the colour of blood or fire
• a red car

• The lights (= traffic lights) changed to red before I could get across.

2. (of the eyes) bloodshot (= with thin lines of blood in them) or surrounded by red or very pink skin

• Her eyes were red from crying.

3. (of the face) bright red or pink, especially because you are angry, embarrassed or ashamed
• He stammered something and went very red in the face.
• (BrE) She went red as a beetroot.

• (NAmE) She went red as a beet.

4. (of hair or an animal's fur) reddish-brown in colour
• a red-haired girl
• red deer

see also redhead

5. (informal, politics) (sometimes disapproving) having very left-wing political opinions

compare pink

6. (politics) (of an area in the US) having more people who vote for the Republican candidate than the Democratic one
• red states/counties
Opp: blue
more at paint the town red at paint _v.
Word Origin:
Old English rēad, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch rood and German rot, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin rufus, ruber, Greek eruthros, and Sanskrit rudhira ‘red’.
Example Bank:
• He could feel himself going bright red.
• Mr Grubb was shouting and growing redder and redder in the face.
• Ross flushed red with embarrassment.
• The coals glowed red in the dying fire.
• The leaves looked slightly red.
• flaming red hair
• her ruby red lips
• Her eyes were red and puffy, as if she'd been crying.

• The traffic light turned red.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

red / red / adjective ( redder , reddest )

A1 of the colour of fresh blood:

red lipstick

The dress was bright red.

A2 describes hair that is an orange-brown colour go/turn (bright) red B2 If you go/turn red, your face becomes red because you are angry or embarrassed:

Look, you've embarrassed him - he's gone bright red!

If your eyes are red, the white part of your eyes and the skin around your eyes is red, because of crying, tiredness, too much alcohol, etc.

redness / ˈred.nəs / noun [ U ]

Her scar healed, but the redness remained for a long time.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

red

/red/
(reds, redder, reddest)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is red is the colour of blood or fire.
...a bunch of red roses...
COLOUR

2.
If you say that someone’s face is red, you mean that it is redder than its normal colour, because they are embarrassed, angry, or out of breath.
With a bright red face I was forced to admit that I had no real idea...
ADJ

3.
You describe someone’s hair as red when it is between red and brown in colour.
...a girl with red hair...
ADJ

4.
You can refer to red wine as red.
The spicy flavours in these dishes call for reds rather than whites.
N-MASS

5.
If you refer to someone as a red or a Red, you disapprove of the fact that they are a communist, a socialist, or have left-wing ideas. (INFORMAL)
N-COUNT [disapproval]

6.
If a person or company is in the red or if their bank account is in the red, they have spent more money than they have in their account and therefore they owe money to the bank.
The theatre is £500,000 in the red...
PHRASE: v-link PHR

7.
If you see red, you suddenly become very angry.
I didn’t mean to break his nose. I just saw red.
PHRASE: V inflects

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

red

¹red /ˈrɛd/ adj red·der; red·dest [also more ~; most ~]
1 : having the color of blood
• a shiny red fire truck
• bright red shoes
• dark red apples
2 : reddish brown or reddish orange in color
• She has red hair. [=she is a redhead]
• a red fox
3 of a person's face : pink because of embarrassment, anger, etc.
• His face turns red when he gets angry.
• When she realized her mistake, she turned beet red. [=she blushed]
• (Brit) His face went red with embarrassment.
4 of eyes : having many red lines from lack of sleep, drunkenness, etc. : bloodshot
• Her eyes were red from crying.
5 somewhat old-fashioned informal + disapproving : supporting Communism : communist
a red rag to a bull Brit informal : something that makes a person very angry
• Just mentioning his poor marks to him was waving a red rag to a bull.
not one red cent
- see cent
paint the town red
- see ²paint
- red·ness /ˈrɛdnəs/ noun [noncount]
• There was swelling and redness around the site of the bee sting.

white

white [adjective] (COLOUR)

/waɪt/

Example:

a white dress

COLOUR having the colour of milk, salt, or snow

Persian equivalent:

Example:

a white dress

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

black and white and grey

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

adjective (whiter, whitest)

1 with the colour of snow or milk:
He wore a white shirt and a blue tie.

2 with pale skin

3 (British) White coffee is made with milk:
I'd like a white coffee.

4 White wine is wine with a light colour.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

white

I. white¹ S1 W1 /waɪt/ BrE AmE adjective
[Word Family: noun: ↑white, ↑whiteness, ↑whitener; verb: ↑whiten; adjective: ↑white]
[Language: Old English; Origin: hwit]
1. COLOUR having the colour of milk, salt, or snow:
a white dress
pure/snow white (=completely white)
snow white hair
2. PEOPLE
a) belonging to the race of people with pale skin ⇨ black:
young white males
b) relating to white people:
a white neighborhood
3. PALE looking pale, because of illness, strong emotion etc:
Are you OK? You’re white as a sheet (=extremely pale).
white with anger/fear etc
Her voice shook, and her face was white with anger.
4. COFFEE [usually before noun] British English white coffee has milk or cream in it
5. WINE white wine is a pale yellow colour ⇨ red
6. a white Christmas a Christmas when there is snow
7. whiter than white completely morally good:

He said that he had never claimed to be whiter than white.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

white

white [white whites whited whiting whiter whitest] adjective, noun [waɪt] [waɪt]

adjective (whiter, whit·est)
1. having the colour of fresh snow or of milk
• a crisp white shirt
• white bread
• a set of perfect white teeth
• His hair was as white as snow.

• The horse was almost pure white in colour.

2. belonging to or connected with a race of people who have pale skin
• white middle-class families

• She writes about her experiences as a black girl in a predominantly white city.

3. (of the skin) pale because of emotion or illness
• white with shock

• She went white as a sheet when she heard the news.

4. (BrE) (of tea or coffee) with milk added
• Two white coffees, please.
• Do you take your coffee black or white?
compare black
Word Origin:
late Old English hwīt, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch wit and German weiss, also to wheat.
Example Bank:
• He looked red-eyed and white-faced, slightly fearful and anxious.

• She went as white as a sheet when she heard the news.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

white / waɪt / adjective (COLOUR)

A1 of a colour like that of snow, milk, or bone:

a white T-shirt

white walls

a black and white dog

He's white-haired now.

"How do you like your coffee?" "White (= with milk or cream) and no sugar, please."

C2 having a pale face because you are not well, or you are feeling shocked:

She was white, and her lips were pale.

A2 used in the names of various food and drink products, many of which are not pure white but slightly cream, yellow, grey, or transparent:

white bread

white chocolate

white flour

white sugar

whiteness / ˈwaɪt.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being white

white / waɪt / adjective (PEOPLE)

B1 of a person who has skin that is pale in colour:

He had a black mother and a white father.

a predominantly white neighbourhood

whiteness / ˈwaɪt.nəs / noun [ U ]

the quality of being white

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

white

/(h)waɪt/
(whiter, whitest, whites)

Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.

1.
Something that is white is the colour of snow or milk.
He had nice square white teeth...
He was dressed in white from head to toe.
COLOUR
• white‧ness
Her scarlet lipstick emphasized the whiteness of her teeth.
N-UNCOUNT

2.
A white person has a pale skin and belongs to a race which is of European origin.
He was white, with brown shoulder-length hair and a moustache.
ADJ
•
Whites are white people.
It’s a school that’s brought blacks and whites and Hispanics together.
N-COUNT: usu pl

3.
If someone goes white, the skin on their face becomes very pale, for example because of fear, shock, anger, or illness.
Richard had gone very white, but he stood his ground...
His face was white with fury.
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ
•
If someone looks white as a sheet or as white as a sheet, they look very frightened, shocked, or ill.
He appeared in the doorway, white as a sheet, eyes wide with horror.
PHRASE: v-link PHR

4.
White wine is pale yellow in colour.
Gregory poured another glass of white wine and went back to his bedroom.
ADJ
•
You can refer to white wine as white.
I bought a bottle of Californian white.
N-MASS

5.
White coffee has had milk or cream added to it. (BRIT)
Wayne has a large white coffee in front of him.
ADJ

6.
White blood cells are the cells in your blood which your body uses to fight infection.
ADJ: ADJ n

7.
The white of an egg is the transparent liquid that surrounds the yellow part called the yolk.
N-VAR

8.
The white of someone’s eye is the white part that surrounds the coloured part called the iris.
N-COUNT: usu N of n

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

¹white /ˈwaɪt/ adj whit·er; -est
1 a : having the color of fresh snow or milk
• He was wearing white sneakers.
• a white T-shirt/blouse
• white socks
• white lilies
• puffy white clouds
• white hair
• He had a long, white beard.
• white rice
b : light or pale in color
• Her lips were white with fear.
• He turned white when he heard the news.
- see also snow-white
2 : of or relating to a race of people who have light-colored skin and who come originally from Europe
• The suspect was a white [=Caucasian] male.
• He came from a white middle-class background.
• His mother is Hispanic and his father is white.
3 US : not having anything written or printed on it
• There was too much white [=empty, blank] space on the page.
4 Brit : served with cream or milk
• white coffee/tea
a white Christmas : a Christmas when there is snow on the ground or when it is snowing
• We were hoping for a white Christmas.
- white·ness /ˈwaɪtnəs/ noun [noncount]
- whit·ish /ˈwaɪtɪʃ/ adj
• whitish hair

trousers

trousers [noun]

/ˈtraʊ.zɚz/

/ˈtraʊ.zəz/

Example:

She was wearing dark blue trousers and a white sweater.

a piece of clothing that covers the lower half of your body, with a separate part fitting over each leg SYN pants American English

Persian equivalent:

Example:

She was wearing dark blue trousers and a white sweater.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

trousers

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

trousers

(British) (American pants) noun (plural)
a piece of clothing for your legs and the lower part of your body:
Your trousers are on the chair.

grammar
Be careful! You cannot say 'a trousers'. You can say a pair of trousers: I bought a new pair of trousers or: I bought some new trousers.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

trousers

trou‧sers S2 /ˈtraʊzəz $ -ərz/ BrE AmE noun [plural] especially British English
[Date: 1600-1700; Origin: trouse 'trousers' (14-19 centuries), from Scottish Gaelic triubhas]
a piece of clothing that covers the lower half of your body, with a separate part fitting over each leg SYN pants American English:
His trousers were slightly too short.
I need a new pair of trousers for work.
—trouser adjective [only before noun]:
The tickets are in my trouser pocket.
⇨ wear the trousers at ↑wear¹(7), ⇨ catch somebody with their trousers down at ↑catch¹(6)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

trousers

trou·sers [ˈtraʊzəz] [ˈtraʊzərz] (especially BrE) (NAmE usually pants) noun

plural
a piece of clothing that covers the body from the waist down and is divided into two parts to cover each leg separately
• a pair of grey trousers
• I was still in short trousers (= still only a boy) at the time.
• He dropped his trousers.
see catch sb with their trousers down at catch _v., wear the trousers at wear _v.
Derived Word: trouser
See also: pants
Word Origin:
[trouser trousers] early 17th cent.: from archaic trouse (singular) from Irish triús and Scottish Gaelic triubhas (see trews), on the pattern of drawers.
Example Bank:
• He disapproves of women in trousers.
• He dropped his trousers in a rude gesture.
• He quickly pulled on his trousers and a T-shirt.
• I was still in short trousers at the time.

• I was still in short trousers= still only a boy at the time.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

trousers / ˈtraʊ.zəz / / -zɚz / noun [ plural ] ( US Usually pants )

A1 a piece of clothing that covers the lower part of the body from the waist to the feet, consisting of two cylinder-shaped parts, one for each leg, that are joined at the top:

I need a new pair of trousers to go with this jacket.

Why aren't you wearing any trousers, David?

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

trousers

/traʊzə(r)z/

Note: The form 'trouser' is used as a modifier.

1.
Trousers are a piece of clothing that you wear over your body from the waist downwards, and that cover each leg separately. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use pants)
He was smartly dressed in a shirt, dark trousers and boots...
Alexander rolled up his trouser legs.
N-PLURAL: also a pair of N

2.
to wear the trousers: see wear

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

trousers

trou·sers /ˈtraʊzɚz/ noun [plural] : pants 1
all mouth and no trousers
- see ¹mouth
wear the trousers
- see ¹wear
with your trousers down Brit informal : in an embarrassing situation
• another CEO caught with his trousers down [=(US) with his pants down]
- trou·ser /ˈtraʊzɚ/ adj always used before a noun
• a trouser leg

noun

pants

pants [noun]

/pænts/

Example:

She was wearing dark blue pants and a white sweater.

a piece of clothing that covers you from your waist to your feet and has a separate part for each leg SYN trousers

Persian equivalent:

Example:

She was wearing dark blue pants and a white sweater.

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

trousers

Level:

Region:

Oxford Essential Dictionary

pants

noun (plural)

1 (British) (American panties, underpants) a small piece of clothing that you wear under your other clothes, around the middle of your body to cover your bottom same meaning knickers, underpants:
a pair of pants

2 American English for trousers

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

pants

I. pants¹ S3 /pænts/ BrE AmE noun [plural]
[Date: 1800-1900; Origin: pantaloons]
1. especially American English a piece of clothing that covers you from your waist to your feet and has a separate part for each leg SYN trousers British English:
She was wearing dark blue pants and a white sweater.
2. British English a piece of underwear that covers the area between your waist and the top of your legs SYN underpants American English ⇨ knickers, briefs, boxer shorts
3. bore/scare etc the pants off somebody informal spoken to make someone feel very bored, very frightened etc:
She always bores the pants off me.
4. beat the pants off somebody American English spoken to defeat someone very easily in a game or competition SYN thrash
5. somebody puts his pants on one leg at a time American English spoken used to say that someone is just like everyone else:
Go on, ask him for his autograph – he puts his pants on one leg at a time just like you do.
6. (since somebody was) in short pants British English informal since someone was a very young boy:
I’ve known Eric since he was in short pants.
⇨ do something by the seat of your pants at ↑seat¹(10), ⇨ catch somebody with their pants down at ↑catch¹(6), ⇨ wear the pants/trousers at ↑wear¹(7)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

pants

pants [pænts] [pænts] noun

plural
1. (BrE) underpants or knickers

• a pair of pants

2. (especially NAmE) trousers
• a new pair of pants
• ski pants

see also cargo pants

3. (BrE, slang) (also used as an adjective) something you think is of poor quality
Syn: rubbish
• Their new CD is absolute pants!
• Do we have to watch this pants programme?
more at have ants in your pants at ant, catch sb with their pants down at catch _v., (fly) by the seat of your pants at seat _n., wear the pants at wear _v., wet your pants/knickers at wet _v.
Idiom: bore/scare the pants off somebody
Word Origin:
[pants] mid 19th cent.: abbreviation of pantaloons.
Example Bank:
• He was so frightened that he wet his pants.

• a brown vest with matching pants

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

pants / pænts / noun [ plural ]

pants

B1 UK → underpants

See picture clothes 3

A1 US for trousers:

a pair of pants

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

pants

/pænts/

1.
Pants are a piece of underwear which have two holes to put your legs through and elastic around the top to hold them up round your waist or hips. (BRIT; in AM, usually use underpants)
I put on my bra and pants.
= knickers
N-PLURAL: also a pair of N

2.
Pants are a piece of clothing that covers the lower part of your body and each leg. (AM; in BRIT, use trousers)
He wore brown corduroy pants and a white cotton shirt.
N-PLURAL: also a pair of N

3.
If you say that something is pants, you mean that it is very poor in quality. (BRIT INFORMAL)
The place is pants, yet so popular.
N-UNCOUNT

4.
If someone bores, charms, or scares the pants off you, for example, they bore, charm, or scare you a lot. (INFORMAL)
You’ll bore the pants off your grandchildren...
PHRASE: v PHR [emphasis]

5.
If you fly by the seat of your pants or do something by the seat of your pants, you use your instincts to tell you what to do in a new or difficult situation rather than following a plan or relying on equipment.
PHRASE: V inflects

6.
to wear the pants: see wear

pant

/pænt/
(pants, panting, panted)

If you pant, you breathe quickly and loudly with your mouth open, because you have been doing something energetic.
She climbed rapidly until she was panting with the effort.

VERB: V

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

pants

pants /ˈpænts/ noun [plural]
1 chiefly US : a piece of clothing that covers your body from the waist to the ankle and has a separate part for each leg
• a pair of pants [=trousers]
• short/long pants
• a pants leg
- sometimes used in the singular form pant especially before another noun and in clothing catalogs
• a pant leg
• a classic khaki pant = (more commonly) classic khaki pants
- see color picture
2 Brit : underpants 1
ants in your pants
- see ant
by the seat of your pants
- see ¹seat
keep your pants on US informal
- used to tell someone to be patient
• “Aren't you ready to leave yet?” “Keep your pants on! I'll be ready in a minute.”
the pants off informal
- used for emphasis after words like charm, scare, frighten, bore, and beat
• He can charm the pants off anybody. [=he is very charming]
• She scared the pants off us [=she scared us very badly] when she phoned at 3 a.m.
• The meeting bored the pants off me.
• The home team beat the pants off the visiting team last night.
wear the pants
- see ¹wear
with your pants down US informal : in an embarrassing or unprepared position
• The clinic now maintains an adequate supply of vaccine so that it won't be caught with its pants down if there is a flu outbreak two years in a row.

noun

blouse

blouse [noun]

/blaʊs/

/blaʊz/

Example:

a white blouse

a shirt for women

Persian equivalent:

jumpers and shirts and tee-shirt

Example:

a white blouse

Theme, CEFR level & Tags

Theme:

Level:

Region: