vermilion
Vermilion (noun) means a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment. Example: “The temple gates were painted a striking vermilion.”
How to use vermilion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA bright red-orange color, like a fire-engine red with a touch of orange.
The color is spelled "vermilion" with one L; "Vermillion" with two Ls is the South Dakota city name.
Word forms
more vermilion comparative, vermilioned past tense, vermilions plural, vermilions singular, most vermilion superlative
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From Old French vermeillon, from vermeil, ultimately from Latin vermiculus ("little worm") — the color was originally made from crushed scale insects used for red dye.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
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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The word “vermilion” means a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment.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 From Old French vermeillon, from vermeil, ultimately from Latin vermiculus ("little worm") — the color was originally made from crushed scale insects used for red dye.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 The most common is: a vivid orange-red color, originally made from a mineral pigment.