dye

1 of 2

noun

ˈdī 

1

: color from dyeing

2

: a soluble or insoluble coloring matter

dye

2 of 2

verb

dyed; dyeing

transitive verb

1

: to impart a new and often permanent color to especially by impregnating with a dye

2

: to impart (a color) by dyeing

intransitive verb

: to take up or impart color in dyeing

dyeability

ˌdī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

dyeable

ˈdī-ə-bəl 

adjective

dyer

ˈdī(-ə)r 

noun

Synonyms

Noun

• color
• colorant
• coloring
• dyestuff
• pigment
• stain

Verb

• bepaint [archaic]
• color
• paint
• pigment
• stain
• tincture
• tinge
• tint

Examples of dye in a Sentence

Noun

soaked the fabric in blue dye

Verb

She had been dyeing her hair for years.

The fabric is bleached, dyed, and then washed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Color Fading and Bleeding High temperatures can make dyes bleed or fade, turning your favorite shirt into a tie-dye disaster. —Aksha Mittapalli, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 July 2024

Coach has recently released all sorts of takes on this popular handbag — ranging from denim to tie dye to ’90s grunge daisy prints — but one of the most viral collections was the Coach Tabby pastel collection. —Claire Sullivan, WWD, 16 July 2024

Verb

For women on stage, a mermaid-esque blowout remains standard—more often than not, dyed a Barbie-adjacent blonde (think Marjorie Taylor Greene). —Mattie Kahn, Vogue, 18 July 2024

For Japanese denim purists, a range of jeans is dyed with natural Japanese indigo and traditional ash fermentation dyeing methods. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 16 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English dehe, from Old English dēah, dēag

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dye

• aniline dye
• azo dye
• piece-dye
• tie-and-dye
• tie-dye
• vat dye
• xanthene dye
• yarn-dye

Kids Definition

dye

1 of 2 noun

ˈdī 

1

: color produced by dyeing

2

: a material used for dyeing or staining

dye

2 of 2 verb

dyed; dyeing

: to stain or color usually permanently

dyer

ˈdī(-ə)r 

noun

Medical Definition

dye

1 of 2 noun

ˈdī 

1

: color from dyeing

2

: a soluble or insoluble coloring matter

dye

2 of 2 verb

dyed; dyeing

transitive verb

1

: to impart a new and often permanent color to especially by impregnating with a dye

2

: to impart (a color) by dyeing

dyeing blue on yellow

intransitive verb

: to take up or impart color in dyeing