polychrome

adjective

poly·​chrome ˈpä-lē-ˌkrōm How to pronounce polychrome (audio)
: relating to, made with, or decorated in several colors
polychrome pottery
polychrome transitive verb
polychromy noun

Examples of polychrome in a Sentence

polychrome pottery featuring designs from the American Southwest
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
La Grande Dame is made of carved and polychrome wood that has been painted with imagery alluding to a rich tapestry of cultural references, including ancient folklore, witchcraft, and an Egyptian creation myth. Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019 Coat of black silk satin brocaded with polychrome silk thread in a pattern of tulips; belt of black silk satin; blouse of white silk-cotton batiste; skirt of beige cotton-linen twill. Irene Kim, Vogue, 28 June 2024 In the artist Eddie Martinez’s dense, polychrome paintings, each mark is haunted by the gesture that made it and each color seems to demand its own verb: The thick gray drips; a bright red streak declares; a daub of blue hesitates. Phoebe Chen, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2023 The polychrome theme continues indoors in kaleidoscopic floor patterns, a wall tiled with the colors of every Latin American flag, and an immense mural by Aurelio del Muro and Marta Blair. Wes Tarca, Curbed, 12 Jan. 2023 The conservator at the time, Michele Marincola, was in the midst of this crazy project to get these bugs out of medieval polychrome sculptures without damaging the wood or the paint. Diana Budds, Curbed, 13 June 2022 Hudson’s Birdie shows up with suitcases full of rich-hippie clothes, including a mesmerizing polychrome swirl of a dress that nearly hypnotizes the other guests into a stupor. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 22 Nov. 2022 The study focuses on the polychrome pottery of the late classic Mayan period (600–900 CE), which frequently depicts palace scenes, ball games, hunting parties, and dances associated with human sacrifice (via decapitation). Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 15 Sep. 2022 The idea, which was dropped, was that the sculpture would be polychrome, and the study shows the Woofus with a blue tail, a pink body, a striped red-and-yellow sash, and a white neck and face covered in small blue dots. Mark Lamster, Dallas News, 30 Sep. 2021

Word History

Etymology

poly- + -chrome

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polychrome was in 1837

Dictionary Entries Near polychrome

Cite this Entry

“Polychrome.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polychrome. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

polychrome

adjective
poly·​chrome ˈpäl-i-ˌkrōm How to pronounce polychrome (audio)
: relating to, made with, or decorated in several colors
polychrome pottery
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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