# hue

/ˈhju/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hue
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a color or shade

noun · CEFR B2 · Literary

a particular color or a specific shade of a color.

For teachers: a color or a particular shade or tint of a color. Countable in specific instances; uncountable when referring to the quality of color.

- The sky was a beautiful hue of deep purple just before the sun went down.
- The artist spent hours mixing pigments to achieve the exact hue of ochre she remembered from the desert landscape.

### 2. technical color property

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the quality of a color that makes it look red, blue, or green.

For teachers: the attribute of a color by virtue of which it is discernible as red, green, etc., and which is dependent on its dominant wavelength.

- You can adjust the hue and brightness on your computer screen.
- In digital imaging, hue is one of the three main properties of a color, alongside saturation and lightness.

### 3. character or aspect

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Formal

the general character or type of something, like an opinion or a feeling.

For teachers: a particular character, aspect, or type of something, often used to describe political or social opinions.

- Politicians of every hue gathered to discuss the new law.
- The protest drew together activists of various political hues, all united by a single common grievance against the proposed development.

### 4. a city in Vietnam

noun · CEFR B2

a famous and historic city located in central Vietnam.

For teachers: a major city in central Vietnam, formerly the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors.

- We visited the ancient imperial palace during our trip to Hue.
- Hue remains a vital cultural center, renowned for its historic architecture and traditional Vietnamese cuisine.

## Examples

- The sunset filled the sky with a deep orange hue.
- The artist spent hours mixing paints to achieve the perfect golden hue for the autumn leaves in her landscape.
- The interior designer suggested that while the primary walls should remain neutral, the accent pieces could introduce a more vibrant hue to create visual interest in the room.

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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.