Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun
- a coloring material or matter.
- a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc.
- color or hue, especially as produced by dyeing.
verb (used with object), dyed, dye·ing.
- to color or stain; treat with a dye; color (cloth, hair, etc.) with a substance containing coloring matter: to dye a dress green.
- to impart (color) by means of a dye: The coloring matter dyed green.
verb (used without object), dyed, dye·ing.
- to impart color, as a dye: This brand dyes well.
- to become colored or absorb color when treated with a dye: This cloth dyes easily.
- of the deepest/blackest dye, of the most extreme or the worst sort: a prevaricator of the blackest dye.
noun
- a staining or colouring substance, such as a natural or synthetic pigment
- a liquid that contains a colouring material and can be used to stain fabrics, skins, etc
- the colour or shade produced by dyeing
verb dyes, dyeing or dyed
- (tr) to impart a colour or stain to (something, such as fabric or hair) by or as if by the application of a dye
Old English deah, deag “a color, hue, tinge,” perhaps related to deagol “secret, hidden, dark, obscure,” from Proto-Germanic *daugilaz (cf. Old Saxon dogol “secret,” Old High German tougal “dark, hidden, secret”).
Old English deagian “to dye,” from the source of dye (n.). Spelling distinction between dye and die was not firm till 19c. “Johnson in his Dictionary, spelled them both die, while Addison, his near contemporary, spelled both dye” [Barnhart]. Related: dyed. Figurative phrase dyed in the wool (or grain) is from dyeing while the material is in its raw state, which has a more durable effect.
n.
- A substance used to color materials or substances, such as cells, tissues, and microorganisms.