carmine

noun car·mine \ ˈkär-mən , -ˌmīn \

Definition of carmine

1 : a rich red to crimson pigment made from cochineal

2 : a vivid red

Recent Examples of carmine from the Web

From lipsticks that contain carmine (red dye from beetles) to moisturizers that are made with lanolin (a waxy substance from sheep glands), shopping for vegan beauty products can be tough.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "Milk Makeup Is Now Completely Vegan," 28 Mar. 2018
Not a molecule of dust has settled on the carmine sofas and cherrywood bookcases and desktop tableaux of 19th-century objets.

— molly young, GQ, "The Excessive Vision of Donatella Versace," 20 Mar. 2018
The pork is stained red, shading from carmine to vermilion, and a beautiful ruin.

— ligaya mishan, New York Times, "At Taqueria El Sinaloense, Regional Dishes Worth an Early Trip," 15 Feb. 2018
Makeup artist Hung Vanngo opted to turn the evening's collective lean toward carmine on its head, daubing Ratajkowski's pout with a shimmery pink nude that kept the focus on her high-impact eyes.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "Emily Ratajkowski Proves Why the Best Golden Globes Makeup Happens at the After-Party," 8 Jan. 2018
To avoid any renderings too literal or ironic, Robbie traded carmine lips for a swipe of rose, the hue also applied along cheekbones.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "Margot Robbie Offers a Lesson in Pop Art Beauty in London," 21 Sep. 2017
This means commonly used cosmetic ingredients like beeswax, lanolin, and carmine (a dye made from beetles' wings) will be replaced.

— sara spruch-feiner, Allure, "Hourglass Cosmetics Is Supporting Animal Rights By Becoming All Vegan and Cruelty-Free," 2 Nov. 2017
Its carmine colored bark adds interest in the winter months, and in spring, meadow green foliage deepens to a wine color with the onset of warmer temperatures.

— patrice hanlon, The Mercury News, "Finding beautiful plants that will thrive in the shade," 4 May 2017
Reflecting Yuki’s artistic sensibility, each chapter narrated from her perspective begins with a description of an exotic shade of pigment — carmine, raw umber, quinacridone gold — selected to correspond to its mood.

— namara smith, New York Times, "A Japanese Woman’s Life in Art, Made in the Village," 10 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'carmine.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of carmine

French carmin, from Medieval Latin carminium, perhaps ultimately from Arabic qirmiz kermes + Latin minium cinnabar

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1712

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

carmine

noun car·mine \ ˈkär-mən, -ˌmīn \

medical Definition of carmine

: a vivid red lake consisting essentially of an aluminum salt of carminic acid made from cochineal and used as a biological stain and as coloring in foods, drugs, and cosmetics; also : any of various coloring matters (as indigo carmine) other than carmine