auburn

The word “auburn” means a reddish-brown colour, most often used to describe hair. In plain terms, a warm reddish-brown, especially describing hair colour.

“Auburn” is pronounced AW-bn (/ˈɔ.bɚn/ in IPA).

Here is “auburn” used in a sentence: “Her auburn hair caught the afternoon light.”

Depending on how it is used, “auburn” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “auburn” comes from Latin. From Old French auborne, "blond, flaxen," ultimately from Latin albus, "white." The meaning shifted to "reddish-brown" in English after it got mixed up with the unrelated word brown.

“Auburn” is an uncommon word in modern English.

“Auburn” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a reddish-brown colour, most often used to describe hair.

Auburn describes a specifically reddish-brown colour, most often used for hair, while red hair can range across brighter, more orange or copper tones. Auburn sits toward the brown end of the reddish spectrum rather than a pure, vivid red.

Auburn is most often used to describe hair colour, though as a general reddish-brown colour it can also describe other objects with that same tone, such as wood or animal fur.

Both describe a reddish-brown hair colour, but auburn tends to lean more distinctly red, while chestnut usually leans more toward a deeper, warmer brown with less red visibility. The two shades overlap and are sometimes used interchangeably by different people.