red
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.the color of things like blood, fire engines, or strawberries.
n.the color evoked by the longest visible wavelengths of light, typically between 625 and 740 nanometers.
Simple“The bright red of the roses looked beautiful against the green grass.”
In context“The artist used a deep, saturated red to draw the viewer's eye toward the central figure in the composition.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a person who supports communism or very left-wing political ideas.
n.a person who holds revolutionary socialist or communist views; often capitalized when referring to historical movements.
Simple“During the revolution, he was known as a committed red.”
In context“The political tensions of the era led to a widespread fear of reds infiltrating the government bureaucracy.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.a glass or bottle of red wine.
n.a variety of wine made from dark-colored grape varieties, typically served at room temperature.
Simple“Would you like a glass of red with your steak?”
In context“The sommelier recommended a full-bodied red to complement the rich flavors of the venison.”
- 04 A1 Beginner
adj.having the color of blood or fire.
adj.possessing a hue that resembles the color of blood or the lower end of the visible spectrum.
Simple“She wore a red dress to the party so she would stand out.”
In context“The red warning light began to flash, indicating that the engine was rapidly overheating.”
- 05 A2 Elementary
adj.having hair that is orange, ginger, or reddish-brown.
adj.describing hair that has a natural orange-brown or copper-toned pigment.
Simple“He has bright red hair and lots of freckles on his face.”
In context“The genetic trait for red hair is relatively rare in the global population, though more common in certain northern European regions.”
- 06 B1 Intermediate
adj.having a face that looks pink or dark because you are embarrassed, angry, or hot.
adj.exhibiting a flushed or rubicund complexion due to physiological factors such as vasodilation or emotional stress.
Simple“His face turned red when he realized he had made a mistake.”
In context“After the intense workout, her face remained red for nearly an hour as her body temperature gradually returned to normal.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to the Republican Party in the United States.
adj.denoting a state or region in the United States that predominantly votes for the Republican Party.
Simple“Texas is traditionally considered a red state in presidential elections.”
In context“Political analysts spent the evening discussing whether the traditionally red district might flip to the opposition.”
SynonymsAntonyms - 08 C1 Advanced
interj.a word used to tell someone to stop what they are doing immediately, often for safety.
interj.a signal used to demand an immediate cessation of activity, particularly in high-risk or consensual contexts.
Simple“We agreed to say 'red' if the game became too rough.”
In context“The participants established a 'red' safe word to ensure that the exercise could be terminated instantly if anyone felt uncomfortable.”
Usage red flag · red card · red flags
From Middle English red, from Old English rēad, from Proto-West Germanic raud, from Proto-Germanic raudaz from Proto-Indo-European h₁rowdʰós, from the root h₁rewdʰ-. Cognates See also West Frisian read, Low German root, rood, rot, rod, Dutch rood, German rot, Danish and Norwegian Bokmål rød, Norwegian Nynorsk raud; also Welsh rhudd, Latin ruber, rufus, Tocharian A rtär, Tocharian B ratre, Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós), Albanian pruth (“redhead”), Russian ру́дый (rúdyj) ("red", "redhaired"). Czech rudý, Lithuanian raúdas, Finnish rauta, Estonian raud, Serbo-Croatian riđ ("reddish", "red"), Avestan 𐬭𐬀𐬊𐬌𐬛𐬌𐬙𐬀 (raoidita), Sanskrit रुधिर (rudhirá, “red, bloody”).
From the archaic verb rede.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.