noun
vermilion
vuh-MIHL-yuhn
Vermilion (noun) means a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment. Example: “The temple gates were painted a striking vermilion.”
noun
1
A vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment.
"The temple gates were painted a striking vermilion."
adj
1
Having this bright orange-red color.
"Autumn had turned the maple leaves vermilion."
How to use vermilion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bright red-orange color, like a fire-engine red with a touch of orange.
Common mistake
The color is spelled "vermilion" with one L; "Vermillion" with two Ls is the South Dakota city name.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- vermilions
- Third person singular
- vermilions
- Past tense
- vermilioned
- Comparative
- more vermilion
- Superlative
- most vermilion
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The temple gates were painted a striking _____.
Etymology
From Old French vermeillon, from vermeil, ultimately from Latin vermiculus ("little worm") — the color was originally made from crushed scale insects used for red dye.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for vermilion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for vermilion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “vermilion” mean?
The word “vermilion” means a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment. In plain terms, a bright red-orange color, like a fire-engine red with a touch of orange.
How do you pronounce “vermilion”?
“Vermilion” is pronounced vuh-MIHL-yuhn (/vɚˈmɪl.jən/ in IPA).
How do you use “vermilion” in a sentence?
Here is “vermilion” used in a sentence: “The temple gates were painted a striking vermilion.”
What part of speech is “vermilion”?
Depending on how it is used, “vermilion” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “vermilion” come from?
The word “vermilion” comes from Latin. From Old French vermeillon, from vermeil, ultimately from Latin vermiculus ("little worm") — the color was originally made from crushed scale insects used for red dye.
How many meanings does “vermilion” have?
“Vermilion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment.
