colored

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colored

A child uses colored pencils to draw a picture.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • (of a color) Artificially produced; not natural: Describes a color that has been added, dyed, or otherwise altered, rather than being original or natural.
    • Favoring one person or side over another; biased: Describes an account, view, or judgment that is not impartial.
    • Having skin rich in melanin pigments; dark-skinned: An older term used to describe people with darker skin tones, particularly of African descent.
    • Having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination: Describes something that is not black, white, or gray; possessing hue. Often used as a suffix in compound adjectives.
  2. Noun:

    • (Offensive) A dated and offensive U.S. term for Black people: This term is now considered derogatory and unacceptable in modern usage.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:

    • She wore a dress of colored silk. (The silk's color was not its natural state.)
    • The journalist was accused of presenting a colored version of events. (The account was biased.)
    • (Historical/Offensive Context) The colored community faced severe discrimination. (Referring to people with darker skin.)
    • The children drew on colored paper. (Paper that has a hue.)
    • We saw rose-colored flowers in the garden. (Used in combination to specify a hue.)
  • Noun:

    • (Offensive, Historical Example) The law segregated "Whites" and "Coloreds." (This usage is now considered highly offensive.)
Advanced Usage
  • "rose-colored glasses": An idiom meaning an overly optimistic or idealistic view of things.
    • He views his childhood through rose-colored glasses.
  • The adjectival form "colored" is largely replaced by more specific terms (e.g., "dyed," "tinted," "pigmented") or by simply stating the color. Its use regarding people is obsolete and offensive.
Variants and Related Words
  • Colorful (adj): Full of color; vivid. Also, interesting or exciting.
    • A colorful painting. / A colorful character.
  • Discolored (adj): Changed to a less attractive color, often by damage or age.
    • The discolored pages of the old book.
  • Multicolored (adj): Having many colors.
    • A multicolored scarf.
Synonyms
  • Adjective (artificial color): Dyed, tinted, stained.
  • Adjective (biased): Biased, prejudiced, partial, slanted.
  • Adjective (having color): Hued, tinted, pigmented.
  • Noun (offensive): (No acceptable synonyms; use "Black people," "African Americans," etc., as appropriate and respectful.)
Related Phrases
  • Color in: To add color to something, like a drawing.
    • The child loves to color in the pictures.
  • Color (something) up: To make something more colorful or lively.
    • She colored up the room with bright curtains.
Related Idioms
  • Show one's true colors: To reveal one's real character, especially when it is unpleasant.
    • He showed his true colors when he refused to help.
  • With flying colors: With great success.
    • She passed the exam with flying colors.
colored

A child uses colored pencils to draw a picture.

Adjective
  1. (used of color) artificially produced; not natural
    • a bleached blonde
  2. favoring one person or side over another
    • a biased account of the trial
    • a decision that was partial to the defendant
  3. having skin rich in melanin pigments
    • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
    • dark-skinned peoples
  4. having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
    • colored crepe paper
    • the film was in color
    • amber-colored heads of grain
Noun
  1. a United States term for Blacks that is now considered offensive