noun
sienna
see-EHN-uh
noun
1
A reddish-brown pigment made from natural clay containing iron and manganese.
"The painter mixed raw sienna into the shadows of the landscape."
adj
1
Having a light reddish-brown colour.
"The room was painted a warm sienna shade."
How to Use Sienna
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA warm reddish-brown colour or pigment, named after the Italian city where the clay was first used.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
raw sienna
burnt sienna
Word Forms
siennas plural, Siennas plural
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Etymology
From Italian terra di Siena ("earth of Siena"), named after the Italian city of Siena, historically a major source of the clay pigment.