adj

purple

PUR-pl

adj

Having the color between red and blue, like violet or lavender.

"She wore a purple dress to the gala."

Overly elaborate or ornate in writing style.

"The reviewer criticized the novel's purple prose."

verb

To turn or make something purple in color.

"His face purpled with rage."

How to Use Purple

Learner’s notes

In 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

Word Forms

purpler comparative, more purple comparative, purpled past tense, purples singular, purplest superlative, most purple superlative

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She wore a _____ dress to the gala.

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.

Antonyms

nonpurple

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