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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
At a site now known as Barranco Gómez in eastern Spain, an artist depicted a sophisticated robbery using ocher on a cave wall. Barrett Klein, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024 When mixed together, ocher and bitumen create a sticky mass that was likely attached to stones and other tools, the scientists say. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Two decades on, the millennial glisten has given way to organic austerity; the dominant tones are now ocher and umber, turmeric and coffee. Martha Schwendener, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 And in Africa, tree resin and ocher had been used to create similar compounds in ancient communities. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ocher 

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 11 Nov. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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