Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Of a color like blood, cherries, or rubies: "red" describes the color at the long-wavelength end of the visible spectrum, next to orange.
   • Having a reddened face due to emotion or exertion: "red" can describe a flushed or crimson complexion, often from embarrassment, anger, or physical effort.
   • Involving violence or bloodshed: "red" is used to characterize something as violent, bloody, or marked by conflict.

2. Noun:

   • The color red: "red" refers to the chromatic color itself or a red pigment.
   • A financial deficit: In accounting, "red" signifies a loss, where expenses exceed revenue.
   • An extreme radical or revolutionary: (Often capitalized: Red) "red" is an emotionally charged term for a communist or revolutionary.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • She wore a beautiful red dress to the party.
  • His face turned red with embarrassment after he tripped.
  • The battle was a long and red conflict.

• Noun:

  • The artist mixed blue and yellow but could not create a perfect red.
  • After the failed product launch, the company was deeply in the red.
  • The political rally was attended by both socialists and Reds.

Advanced Usage

• "to see red": to become very angry suddenly.

  • When he heard the insult, he saw red.

• "red in tooth and claw": describing nature or a situation as brutally competitive or violent.

  • The business world can be red in tooth and claw.

• "paint the town red": to go out and celebrate wildly.

  • After their final exam, the students decided to paint the town red.

Variants and Related Words

• Redden (verb): to make or become red.

  • The sunset reddened the sky.

• Reddish (adjective): slightly red.

  • The stone had a reddish tint.

• Reds (noun, plural): Often refers to communists or, in some contexts, red items (e.g., in snooker/pool).

Synonyms

• Crimson: a deep red color.
• Scarlet: a bright red color.
• Ruby: a deep, rich red, like the gemstone.
• Flushed: red in the face (for the adjective form related to complexion).

Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)

• Red out: (Aviation/Medicine) to experience a reddening of vision due to negative g-forces or other physical stress. (Note: This is a technical/specialized usage).
  • The pilot began to red out during the steep dive.

Related Idioms

• A red herring: something that misleads or distracts from the relevant issue.

  • The clue in the mystery novel turned out to be a red herring.

• Roll out the red carpet: to give special treatment to an important guest.

  • The city rolled out the red carpet for the visiting dignitaries.

• Like a red rag to a bull: something that is certain to provoke anger.

  • Criticizing his work was like a red rag to a bull.

Adjective

1. (especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion
   • crimson with fury
   • turned red from exertion
   • with puffy reddened eyes
   • red-faced and violent
   • flushed (or crimson) with embarrassment
2. characterized by violence or bloodshed
   • writes of crimson deeds and barbaric days- Andrea Parke
   • fann'd by Conquest's crimson wing- Thomas Gray
   • convulsed with red rage- Hudson Strode
3. of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

Noun

1. the amount by which the cost of a business exceeds its revenue
   • the company operated at a loss last year
   • the company operated in the red last year
2. emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries
3. a tributary of the Mississippi River that flows eastward from Texas along the southern boundary of Oklahoma and through Louisiana
4. red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood