purple
PUR-pl
Purple (noun) means a colour between red and blue, like that of violets or ripe plums. Example: “The painter mixed red and blue to make a deep purple.”
noun
1
A colour between red and blue, like that of violets or ripe plums.
"The painter mixed red and blue to make a deep purple."
"Purple is the colour of the flowers growing along the garden wall."
"Purple was her favourite colour as a child."
adj
1
Having the color between red and blue, like violet or lavender.
"She wore a purple dress to the gala."
"He bought a purple scarf to keep his neck warm in winter."
"The sky turned purple just after the sun went down."
2
Overly elaborate or ornate in writing style.
"The reviewer criticized the novel's purple prose."
"Her early poems were purple, packed with long words and flowery images."
"The editor cut the purple passages so the story read more simply."
verb
1
To turn or make something purple in color.
"His face purpled with rage."
"The sky purpled as the storm clouds gathered over the hills."
"The cold wind purpled the children's cheeks during the walk."
How to use purple
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe color between red and blue; figuratively, also used to mean overly fancy writing.
Common pairings
purple prose
royal purple
turn purple with anger
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like purple.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- purples
- Past tense
- purpled
- Comparative
- purpler, more purple
- Superlative
- purplest, most purple
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The painter mixed red and blue to make a deep _____.
Etymology
From Old English purpul, from purpure ("purple color"), from Latin purpura ("purple dye, shellfish"), from Greek porphúra. Historically associated with royalty because purple dye was rare and expensive, worn by emperors and kings.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
nonpurple
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “purple” mean?
The word “purple” means having the color between red and blue, like violet or lavender. In plain terms, the color between red and blue; figuratively, also used to mean overly fancy writing.
How do you pronounce “purple”?
“Purple” is pronounced PUR-pl (/ˈpɝ.pl̩/ in IPA).
How do you use “purple” in a sentence?
Here is “purple” used in a sentence: “She wore a purple dress to the gala.”
What is the opposite of “purple”?
The opposite of “purple” — its antonyms — is nonpurple.
What part of speech is “purple”?
Depending on how it is used, “purple” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “purple” come from?
The word “purple” comes from Latin.
Is “purple” a common word?
“Purple” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “purple” have?
“Purple” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having the color between red and blue, like violet or lavender.
What is the difference between purple and violet?
Purple is the broad colour between red and blue, covering shades like violet and lavender. Violet is a specific hue at the blue end of that range, close to the colour seen in a rainbow, so violet is one kind of purple.
What is the difference between purple, mauve, and lavender?
All three sit within the purple family, the colour between red and blue. Lavender is a pale, soft purple, while mauve is a muted, greyish purple, so both are lighter and less intense than a deep, saturated purple.
What colours mix to make purple?
Purple is described as the colour between red and blue, and combining red and blue is the usual way to produce it. Adding more red gives a warmer purple, while more blue pushes it toward violet.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include purple:
