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vermilion

noun ver·mil·ion \ vər-ˈmil-yən \
variants: or less commonly vermillion
|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of vermilion

1 : a vivid reddish orange
2 : a bright red pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide; broadly : any of various red pigments

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Recent Examples of vermilion from the Web

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Origin and Etymology of vermilion

Middle English vermilioun, borrowed from Anglo-French vermeilloun, from vermeil "bright red, red color" (going back to Late Latin vermiculus "bright red color (obtained from kermes)," going back to Latin, "insect larva, grub," from vermis "worm" + -culus, diminutive suffix) + -on, diminutive or particularizing suffix, going back to Latin -ō, -ōn-, suffix of persons with a prominent feature — more at 1worm

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe

VERMILION Defined for English Language Learners

vermilion

noun

Definition of vermilion for English Language Learners

  • : a bright orange-red color

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