ombré

1 of 2

adjective

om·​bré ˈäm-ˌbrā 

variants or ombre

: having colors or tones that shade into each other

Stewart arrived … in white sequined Chanel trousers, a black top, and orange ombré hair, bringing to mind Katharine Hepburn had she collided in some faraway star system with David Bowie.

—Durga Chew-Bose

Rich, saturated hues cover most of the walls, which Venezuelan painter Antonio Rimada finished with an ombre technique. In the processional main hall … Rimada shaded the wall progressively, from turquoise to gold, a stunning backdrop for the owner's collection of Latin American art.

—Jean Strouse

ombré noun

ombre

2 of 2

noun

om·​bre ˈäm-bər  ˈäm-brē  -ˌbrā  ˈəm- 

: an old three-handed card game popular in Europe especially in the 17th and 18th centuries

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

French, past participle of ombrer to shade, from Italian ombrare, from ombra shade, from Latin umbra — more at umbrage

Noun

French or Spanish; French hombre, from Spanish, literally, man — more at hombre

First Known Use

Adjective

1893, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1661, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ombre

adjective

om·​bre

ˈäm-ˌbrā

: having colors or tones that shade into each other