carmine

12 synonyms for carmine, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A deep purplish-red pigment or dye, traditionally made from crushed cochineal insects.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

red

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

cardinal crimson reddish ruby scarlet cherry

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

cochineal C.I. 75470 E120 ruddy cerise

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A deep purplish-red pigment or dye, traditionally made from crushed cochineal insects.

“The artist mixed carmine with white to get a softer rose tone.”

cardinal crimson cochineal C.I. 75470 E120

2. adjective

Of a deep purplish-red colour.

“She painted her lips a bold carmine shade.”

reddish ruby scarlet crimson cherry red ruddy cerise

How to use carmine

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

carmine red carmine dye carmine pigment

Etymology

From French carmin, traced back through Arabic and Persian words for the crimson dye "kermes," ultimately from a root meaning "worm" — a nod to the insect the pigment was made from.

Full origin of carmine →

Frequently asked questions

What does “carmine” mean?

The word “carmine” means a deep purplish-red pigment or dye, traditionally made from crushed cochineal insects. In plain terms, a rich red-pink colour, and the pigment used to make it, originally derived from insects rather than plants or minerals.

How do you pronounce “carmine”?

“Carmine” is pronounced KAH-myn (/ˈkɑɹmaɪn/ in IPA).

How do you use “carmine” in a sentence?

Here is “carmine” used in a sentence: “The artist mixed carmine with white to get a softer rose tone.”

What is another word for “carmine”?

Words with a similar meaning to “carmine” include crimson, cochineal, C.I. 75470 and E120.

What part of speech is “carmine”?

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

Where does the word “carmine” come from?

The word “carmine” comes from French. From French carmin, traced back through Arabic and Persian words for the crimson dye "kermes," ultimately from a root meaning "worm" — a nod to the insect the pigment was made from.

How many meanings does “carmine” have?

“Carmine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a deep purplish-red pigment or dye, traditionally made from crushed cochineal insects.

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red cherry cardinal ruby scarlet crimson reddish cochineal cerise ruddy

Nearby words

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