pink
PIHNGK
Pink (noun) means a pale red colour. Example: “The bedroom walls were painted a soft pink.”
noun
1
A pale red colour.
"The bedroom walls were painted a soft pink."
"The baby's blanket was a pale shade of pink."
"Mix a little red into the white paint to get a pretty pink."
2
A garden plant related to the carnation, with sweet-smelling flowers.
"The pinks in her garden smelled sweet all through the summer evening."
"He planted a row of pinks beside the old stone wall."
"Pinks grew along the edge of the path."
adj
1
Having a pale reddish colour, a mix of red and white.
"She wore a pink dress to the party."
"The sunset turned the sky a soft pink."
"The baby's cheeks turned pink in the cold wind."
verb
1
To cut a decorative zigzag edge into fabric, or to prick something sharply.
"She used pinking shears to pink the edge of the fabric so it wouldn't fray."
"Please pink the seams with these scissors so the cloth does not unravel."
"He pinked the edges of each felt square before sewing them together."
How to use pink
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe pale red colour most people know from birthday-card wrapping paper — or, less commonly, to cut a zigzag edge in fabric.
Common pairings
pink in the face
pink slip
tickled pink
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Word forms
- Plural
- pinks
- Third person singular
- pinks
- Past tense
- pinked
- Comparative
- pinker
- Superlative
- pinkest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The bedroom walls were painted a soft _____.
Etymology
The color sense may come from the flower called a "pink," whose petals have a delicately notched edge — the color name followed the flower, not the other way around.
Related words
Rhymes for pink
See all rhymes for pink →Frequently asked questions
What does “pink” mean?
The word “pink” means having a pale reddish colour, a mix of red and white. In plain terms, the pale red colour most people know from birthday-card wrapping paper — or, less commonly, to cut a zigzag edge in fabric.
How do you pronounce “pink”?
“Pink” is pronounced PIHNGK (/ˈpɪŋk/ in IPA).
How do you use “pink” in a sentence?
Here is “pink” used in a sentence: “She wore a pink dress to the party.”
What part of speech is “pink”?
Depending on how it is used, “pink” can be an adjective and a verb.
Is “pink” a common word?
“Pink” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “pink” have?
“Pink” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having a pale reddish colour, a mix of red and white.
What colours make pink?
Pink is made by mixing red with white; the more white you add, the paler and softer the pink. Adding a touch of blue shifts it toward rose or fuchsia, while a hint of orange warms it into salmon or coral. Pure pink sits on the scale between red and white.
Is pink a warm or cool colour?
Pink is generally seen as a warm colour because it comes from red. Its temperature shifts with its undertone, though: blush and salmon pinks feel warm, while pinks with a blue or purple undertone, like fuchsia and rose, can feel cooler. Lighting and surrounding colours also change how it reads.
What are the different shades of pink?
Pink covers a wide family of shades, including blush, rose, salmon, coral, fuchsia, magenta, and hot pink. Softer shades lean toward white and read as gentle and calm, while brighter, more saturated pinks lean toward red or purple and feel bold, playful, and energetic.
What does the colour pink represent?
Pink is widely associated with love, tenderness, warmth, and playfulness, and it is often linked with romance and compassion. In many cultures it also carries feminine connotations, though these are cultural rather than fixed. Softer pinks suggest calm and care, while vivid pinks feel fun, bold, and daring.
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