ENGLISH
REFERENCE

coloring

n.
US //ˈkəɫɝɪŋ// col·or·ing
  1. 1 natural appearance (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the natural color of a person's skin, hair, and eyes.

    the natural pigmentation or complexion of a person, animal, or object.

    Example

    Her pale coloring meant she had to be careful in the summer sun.

    Example

    The artist captured the subject's delicate coloring by layering thin washes of peach and ivory over the canvas.
  2. 2 food additive (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Cooking

    a substance added to food or drink to change its color.

    a substance, often synthetic, used to impart color to food, beverages, or other manufactured goods.

    Example

    The baker used green food coloring to make the icing look like grass.

    Example

    Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns regarding the long-term health effects of artificial coloring in children's snacks.
  3. 3 the activity (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    the act of filling in a picture with colors, often as a hobby.

    the process or activity of applying color to a surface, particularly within a drawing or sketch.

    Example

    The children spent the rainy afternoon coloring in their books.

    Example

    Adult coloring has become a popular therapeutic activity for reducing stress and improving focus through repetitive, creative motion.
  4. 4 graph theory (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Math

    giving colors to points on a map or diagram so that no two connected points have the same color.

    the assignment of labels, traditionally called colors, to elements of a graph subject to certain constraints.

    Example

    The student solved the puzzle using a four-color coloring method.

    Example

    The professor demonstrated that the chromatic number of the graph represents the minimum number of colors required for a valid coloring.

Last updated June 20, 2026