variants or ochre
1
: an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as a pigment
2
: the color of ocher
especially : the color of yellow ocher
ocherous adjective
or ochreous
ˈō-k(ə-)rəs How to pronounce ocher (audio)
-krē-əs

Examples of ocher in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web And in Africa, tree resin and ocher had been used to create similar compounds in ancient communities. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Unlike other Paleolithic paintings, typically made with ocher or manganese, most of Cova Dones’ paintings were done in clay—and conserved by chemistry. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Jan. 2024 The hues of the neighboring garden inspired the olive, ocher, and mahogany palette of the property’s 19 rooms and suites, which were designed by husband-and-wife owners Pedro Oliveira and Alicia Valero. Christine Chitnis, Travel + Leisure, 15 Oct. 2023 Her rule of thumb: Stick with ocher and brown undertones. Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Oct. 2023 The work’s palette of browns, ochers, white and light blue is an exemplar of Taylor’s odd, frugal color. Roberta Smith, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2023 This occurs when a thick glaze contracts during firing into separate little islands on the exposed clay, which Lane often stained with yellow or ocher for greater contrast. Roberta Smith, New York Times, 6 July 2023 Related paintings titled Iberia have masses of black all but obliterating dying embers of white, gray and/or ocher at the bottom. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 16 June 2023 The smoke blotted out the sun and the sky turned ocher. Joanna Slater, Washington Post, 9 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ocher.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oker, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French ocre, from Latin ochra, from Greek ōchra, from feminine of ōchros yellow

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ocher was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ocher

Cite this Entry

“Ocher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ocher. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ocher

noun
variants or ochre
1
: an earthy usually red or yellow and often impure iron ore used as coloring matter
2
: the color of yellow ocher

More from Merriam-Webster on ocher

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