View synonyms for yellow

yellow

[yel-oh]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a color like that of egg yolk, ripe lemons, etc.; the primary color between green and orange in the visible spectrum, an effect of light with a wavelength between 570 and 590 nanometers.
the yolk of an egg.
a yellow pigment or dye.
Informal., yellow light.
Slang., yellow jacket.

adjective

yellower, yellowest

of the color yellow.
Disparaging and Offensive.
1. designating or pertaining to an Asian person or Asian peoples.
2. designating or pertaining to a person of mixed racial origin, especially of black and white heritage.
having a sallow or yellowish complexion.
Informal., cowardly.
Synonyms: fearful, timorous, craven
1. (of a newspaper, book, etc.) featuring articles, pictures, or other content that is sensational, especially morbidly or offensively so.
  yellow rags;
  yellow biographies.
2. dishonest in editorial comment and the presentation of news, especially in sacrificing truth for sensationalism, as in
jealous; envious.

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become yellow.
Yellow the sheets with dye.
The white stationery had yellowed with age.

yellow

/ ˈjɛləʊ /

noun

any of a group of colours that vary in saturation but have the same hue. They lie in the approximate wavelength range 585–575 nanometres. Yellow is the complementary colour of blue and with cyan and magenta forms a set of primary colours
a pigment or dye of or producing these colours
yellow cloth or clothing
dressed in yellow
the yolk of an egg
a yellow ball in snooker, etc
any of a group of pieridine butterflies the males of which have yellow or yellowish wings, esp the clouded yellows ( Colias spp.) and the brimstone

adjective

of the colour yellow
yellowish in colour or having parts or marks that are yellowish
yellow jasmine
having a yellowish skin; Mongoloid
informal, cowardly or afraid
offensively sensational, as a cheap newspaper (esp in the phrase yellow press )

verb

to make or become yellow

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Sensitive Note

It is perceived as insulting to use yellow to describe a person of Asian or mixed racial origin, as in the terms yellow peril and high yellow.

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Other Word Forms

yellowly adverb
yellowness noun
yellowish adjective
yellowy adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow¹

First recorded before 900; 1895–1900 yellow for def. 9; Middle English yelou (adjective and noun), Old English geolo, geolu (adjective); cognate with Dutch geel, German gelb, Old Norse gulr; akin to Latin helvus “pale yellow,” Persian zar “gold” ( jargon ² ( def. ) ), Sanskrit hári “brown, green, yellow”

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Word History and Origins

Origin of yellow¹

Old English geolu; related to Old Saxon, Old High German gelo, Old Norse gulr, Latin helvus

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

So they formed an independent group, with bespoke yellow shirts, to help each other - and demand more.

From BBC

He was known for his blond hair, dark spray tan, red and yellow ensembles and his infectious energy in the ring.

From Los Angeles Times

He flew an Italian flag at his yellow house.

From Los Angeles Times

The drink itself is also quite colorful, with shades of pink, orange and yellow, making it the epitome of summer in a cup.

From Salon

What was worse again, Australia reacted to his yellow card like men possessed.

From BBC

yell yellow alert

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