VERMILION

vermilion, vermillion, cinnabar, Chinese-red

(adjective) of a vivid red to reddish-orange color

scarlet, vermilion, orange red

(noun) a variable color that is vivid red but sometimes with an orange tinge

vermilion

(verb) color vermilion

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

vermilion (countable and uncountable, plural vermilions)

A vivid red synthetic pigment made of mercury sulfide.

A bright orange-red colour.

A type of red dye worn in the parting of the hair by married Hindu women.

The red skin of the lips or its border with the skin of the face.

(obsolete) The kermes or cochineal insect.

(obsolete) The cochineal dye made from this insect.

Adjective

vermilion (comparative more vermilion, superlative most vermilion)

Having a brilliant red colour.

Having the color of the vermilion dye.

Verb

vermilion (third-person singular simple present vermilions, present participle vermilioning, simple past and past participle vermilioned)

(transitive) To color or paint vermilion.

Anagrams

• limnivore

Source: Wiktionary

Ver*mil"ion, n. Etym: [F. vermillon. See Vermeil.]

1. (Chem.)

Definition: A bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulphide, obtained either from the mineral cinnabar or artificially. It has a fine red color, and is much used in coloring sealing wax, in printing, etc.

Note: The kermes insect has long been used for dyeing red or scarlet. It was formerly known as the worm dye, vermiculus, or vermiculum, and the cloth was called vermiculatia. Hence came the French vermeil for any red dye, and hence the modern name vermilion, although the substance it denotes is very different from the kermes, being a compound of mercury and sulphur. R. Hunt.

2. Hence, a red color like the pigment; a lively and brilliant red; as, cheeks of vermilion.

Ver*mil"ion, v. t.

Definition: To color with vermilion, or as if with vermilion; to dye red; to cover with a delicate red.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition