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noun

mauve

mohv
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Mauve (noun) means a pale purple colour. Example: “She painted the bedroom walls a soft mauve.”

noun
1
A pale purple colour.
"She painted the bedroom walls a soft mauve."
adj
1
Having a pale purple colour.
"The bridesmaids wore mauve dresses."

How to use mauve

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA pale, dusky shade of purple.

Common pairings
mauve dress pale mauve a shade of mauve
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Word forms

Plural
mauves
Comparative
mauver, more mauve
Superlative
mauvest, most mauve
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She painted the bedroom walls a soft _____.

Etymology

From French mauve, "mallow" (the flower), named for the purple synthetic dye accidentally discovered in 1856 by chemist William Henry Perkin — the first artificial aniline dye.

Origin: French · First attested 1856

Class of 1856 mauve joined the language around 1856.
See the full Class of 1856 →

Antonyms

Related words

Rhymes for mauve

See all rhymes for mauve →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mauve” mean?
The word “mauve” means a pale purple colour. In plain terms, a pale, dusky shade of purple.
How do you pronounce “mauve”?
“Mauve” is pronounced mohv (/məʊv/ in IPA).
How do you use “mauve” in a sentence?
Here is “mauve” used in a sentence: “She painted the bedroom walls a soft mauve.”
What part of speech is “mauve”?
Depending on how it is used, “mauve” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mauve” come from?
The word “mauve” dates back to around 1856 and comes from French. From French mauve, "mallow" (the flower), named for the purple synthetic dye accidentally discovered in 1856 by chemist William Henry Perkin — the first artificial aniline dye.
How many meanings does “mauve” have?
“Mauve” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pale purple colour.

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