# coloring

/ˈkəɫɝɪŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/coloring
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. natural appearance

noun · CEFR B1

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

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

- Her pale coloring meant she had to be careful in the summer sun.
- The artist captured the subject's delicate coloring by layering thin washes of peach and ivory over the canvas.

### 2. food additive

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The baker used green food coloring to make the icing look like grass.
- Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns regarding the long-term health effects of artificial coloring in children's snacks.

### 3. the activity

noun · CEFR A2

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

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

- The children spent the rainy afternoon coloring in their books.
- Adult coloring has become a popular therapeutic activity for reducing stress and improving focus through repetitive, creative motion.

### 4. graph theory

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

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

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

- The student solved the puzzle using a four-color coloring method.
- The professor demonstrated that the chromatic number of the graph represents the minimum number of colors required for a valid coloring.

## Examples

- She has very pale coloring and blue eyes.
- The chef added a drop of yellow coloring to the icing to make it look more like a lemon.
- The artist's choice of vibrant coloring in the foreground creates a sharp contrast with the muted, grey tones of the distant mountains.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.