carmine
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.”
How to Use Carmine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rich red-pink colour, and the pigment used to make it, originally derived from insects rather than plants or minerals.
Carmine, crimson, and scarlet are all reddish but not interchangeable — carmine leans more purple-red than scarlet, which is more orange-red.
Word Forms
carmines plural, Carmines plural
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for carmine
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.