cochineal

noun

co·​chi·​neal ˈkä-chə-ˌnēl 

ˈkō-

1

: a red dye consisting of the dried bodies of female cochineal insects

2

: cochineal insect

Examples of cochineal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For these 15-foot sheets of paper, treated with cochineal and lemon juice, Argote has run her fingers and feet into layers of mashed avocado to carve out two towering symmetrical figures. — Tara Anne Dalbow, ARTnews.com, 29 May 2026

By the 19th century, confectioners in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region began tinting their sugar syrup red using cochineal, a natural dye derived from insects. — Ryan McCarthy, Saveur, 11 Feb. 2026

The same hands that shape the region's famous barro negro pottery and weave textiles dyed with cochineal from local cactus insects now work with architects to create these contemporary structures. — Michaela Trimble, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2025

The insect known as cochineal (Dactylopius coccus) is oval-shaped. — Elizabeth Gamillo, Discover Magazine, 30 Nov. 2023

But blush prevailed again during the Renaissance, with concoctions of cochineal, sandalwood, or cinnabar mixed with grease or wax. — Linda Wells, Town & Country, 16 Apr. 2021

The dye used by the Aztecs to produce this incredible tone of red was obtained from a tiny insect, the cochineal, that lives on cactus plants (various species belonging to the genus Opuntia, the prickly pear). — Longreads, 23 Mar. 2021

The paintings are by Metsu and Ter Borch, the compositions and concepts subtly varied, yet each includes an elegant young woman in a shimmering white silk skirt and a cochineal-red bodice. — Karen Wilkin, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Middle French & Spanish; Middle French cochenille, from Old Spanish cochinilla cochineal insect

First Known Use

1582, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cochineal

• cochineal insect

Rhymes for cochineal

• bookmobile
• nonideal
• peroneal
• philomel
• snowmobile
• waterwheel
• abele
• alkyl
• anneal
• appeal
• cartwheel
• conceal

Kids Definition

cochineal

noun

co·​chi·​neal ˈkäch-ə-ˌnēl 

ˈkō-chə-

: a red dye consisting of the dried bodies of female cochineal insects

Medical Definition

cochineal

noun

co·​chi·​neal ˈkäch-ə-ˌnēl, ˈkō-chə- 

: a red dye consisting of the dried bodies of female cochineal insects used especially as a biological stain and as an indicator