# dye

/ˈdaɪ/ (US) · /dˈaɪ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 3. a hue or colour

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a particular shade or colour of something.

For teachers: a particular hue, tint, or colouration. This sense is often found in older literature or formal descriptions of nature.

- The flowers were of a bright and beautiful dye.
- The sunset painted the clouds with a crimson dye that seemed to glow against the darkening horizon.

## Examples

- She used a blue dye to change the color of her old jeans.
- The factory uses organic vegetable dye to ensure that the clothing production process remains environmentally friendly.
- Artisans in the region still harvest local indigo plants to produce the deep blue dye that has characterized their traditional textiles for centuries.

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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.