# pink

/ˈpɪŋk/ (US) · /pˈɪŋk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pink
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. the colour

adjective · CEFR A1

having a pale red colour, like the mix of red and white.

For teachers: denoting a colour of low saturation and high brightness, situated between red and white.

- She wore a bright pink dress to the summer party.
- The sky turned a delicate shade of pink as the sun began to dip below the horizon.

### 2. the colour itself

noun · CEFR A1

the colour that is a mix of red and white.

For teachers: the hue produced by the combination of red and white light or pigments.

- Pink is her favourite colour for decorating the bedroom.
- The artist used various shades of pink to capture the soft texture of the cherry blossoms.

### 3. a type of flower

noun · CEFR B2

a small garden flower that is often pink, white, or red.

For teachers: any of various plants in the genus Dianthus, characterized by fringed petals and a spicy fragrance.

- The garden was full of sweet-smelling pinks in the early summer.
- He planted a border of fringed pinks to provide a fragrant edge to the stone pathway.

### 4. the best condition

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the highest or best possible state of something, especially health.

For teachers: the peak or highest degree of a particular state or quality; most common in the idiom 'in the pink of health'.

- After his holiday, he looked like he was in the pink of health.
- Despite his advanced age, the retired professor remained in the pink of physical and mental condition.

### 5. snooker ball

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

the pink ball in the game of snooker, worth six points.

For teachers: one of the six coloured object balls in snooker, positioned on the pink spot and carrying a value of six points.

- He needed to pot the pink to win the frame.
- The player carefully lined up the shot on the pink, knowing that a miss would give his opponent a chance to clear the table.

### 6. to cut fabric

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to cut the edge of cloth in a zigzag pattern to stop it from fraying.

For teachers: to cut a decorative notched or zigzag edge on fabric, typically using specialized shears.

- She used special scissors to pink the edges of the silk scarf.
- The tailor chose to pink the internal seams of the jacket to prevent the delicate lining from unraveling over time.

### 7. engine noise

verb · CEFR C2 · British English

when a car engine makes a sharp metallic clicking sound.

For teachers: to emit a high-pitched metallic knocking sound caused by pre-ignition in an internal combustion engine.

- The engine started to pink when I tried to drive up the steep hill.
- The mechanic explained that using low-octane fuel was causing the engine to pink under heavy acceleration.

Usage: The verb is intransitive when describing the engine sound.

### 8. politically left-leaning

adjective · CEFR C1 · Informal

having socialist views, but not as extreme as a communist.

For teachers: holding mildly left-wing or socialist political sympathies; often used as a milder alternative to 'red'.

- The newspaper was known for its slightly pink political stance.
- During the election, the candidate was criticized for his pink tendencies by more conservative members of the party.

## Examples

- She chose a bright shade of pink for the bedroom walls.
- The sky turned a soft shade of pink as the sun began to set over the mountains.
- While the artist used deep reds for the foreground, the distant flowers were rendered in various tints of pink to suggest depth and light.

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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.