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noun

carmine

KAH-myn
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Carmine (noun) means a deep purplish-red pigment or dye, traditionally made from crushed cochineal insects. Example: “The artist mixed carmine with white to get a softer rose tone.”

noun
1
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."
"Carmine has been used as a natural food and cosmetic colorant for centuries."
adjective
1
Of a deep purplish-red colour.
"She painted her lips a bold carmine shade."
"The sunset faded from carmine to violet."

How to use carmine

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA rich red-pink colour, and the pigment used to make it, originally derived from insects rather than plants or minerals.

Common mistake

Carmine, crimson, and scarlet are all reddish but not interchangeable — carmine leans more purple-red than scarlet, which is more orange-red.

Easily confused with
crimson → carmen →
Common pairings
carmine red carmine dye carmine pigment
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Word forms

Plural
carmines
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The artist mixed _____ with white to get a softer rose tone.

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.

Origin: French

Synonyms

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cardinal reddish ruby scarlet crimson cherry red ruddy cerise cochineal C.I. 75470 E120

Related words

new white red central key blue fourth pure

Rhymes for carmine

nine mine wine line sine dine fine thine shine Rhine Maine seine
See all rhymes for 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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