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REFERENCE

yellow

n. · adj. · v.
US //ˈjɛɫoʊ// UK //jˈɛləʊ// yel·low
  1. 1 the color (n.)
    A1 Beginner

    the color of lemons, sunflowers, or the sun.

    the color of light with a wavelength of approximately 580 nanometers; one of the three primary colors in subtractive systems.

    Example

    She chose a bright yellow for the kitchen walls to make the room feel warmer.

    Example

    The artist used a vibrant cadmium yellow to capture the intensity of the midday sun reflecting off the desert sands.
  2. 2 sports penalty (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Sport

    a yellow card shown by a referee to warn a player.

    a yellow card issued as a formal caution to a player for a foul or misconduct during a match.

    Example

    The defender received a yellow for a late tackle in the first half.

    Example

    After receiving an early yellow for dissent, the midfielder had to play more cautiously to avoid a second booking and a subsequent red card.
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  1. 3 color description (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    having the color of a lemon or gold.

    possessing a hue characterized by the color yellow.

    Example

    He wore a yellow raincoat so he would be easy to see in the storm.

    Example

    The autumn leaves turned a brilliant yellow before falling to the damp forest floor.
  2. 4 cowardly (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    not brave; easily scared.

    lacking courage or being easily intimidated; often used as a mild insult.

    Example

    He was too yellow to stand up to the bully.

    Example

    The antagonist mocked the hero, calling him yellow for refusing to participate in the dangerous duel.
  3. 5 sensationalist journalism (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    news that is shocking or exaggerated rather than being accurate.

    referring to journalism that relies on sensationalism and crude exaggeration to attract readers.

    Example

    The magazine was famous for its yellow journalism and fake celebrity stories.

    Example

    Historians often point to the yellow journalism of the late nineteenth century as a major factor in swaying public opinion toward war.

    Usage

    Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'yellow journalism'.
  4. 6 to change color with age (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to turn yellow, especially because of age.

    to become yellow or yellower over time, often due to oxidation or exposure to light.

    Example

    The old newspapers had started to yellow and crumble at the edges.

    Example

    The white silk of the wedding dress had yellowed significantly after sitting in the attic for over fifty years.
Etymology 1

From Middle English yelwe, yelou, from Old English ġeolwe, oblique form of Old English ġeolu, from Proto-West Germanic gelu, from Proto-Germanic gelwaz, from Proto-Indo-European ǵʰelh₃wós, from ǵʰelh₃- (“gleam, yellow”). Cognate with Scots yella (“yellow”), North Frisian gööl, güül (“yellow”), Saterland Frisian jeel (“yellow”), West Frisian giel (“yellow”), Cimbrian gel, ghéel (“yellow”), Dutch geel (“yellow”), Dutch Low Saxon gael, gel (“yellow”), German gelb, gehl (“yellow”), German Low German gel, geel, gęl, gäl (“yellow”), Luxembourgish giel (“yellow”), Vilamovian gaoł (“yellow”), Yiddish געל (gel), געלב (gelb, “yellow”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Swedish gul (“yellow”), Faroese and Icelandic gulur (“yellow”). Compare also Welsh gell (“bay, tawny”), Latin helvus (“dull yellow”), Irish geal (“white, bright”), Italian giallo (“yellow”) Lithuanian žalias (“green”), Ancient Greek χλωρός (khlōrós, “light green”), Persian زرد (zard, “yellow”), Sanskrit हरि (hari, “greenish-yellow”), Russian жёлтый (žóltyj, “yellow”), Russian зелёный (zeljónyj, “green”). The verb is from Middle English yelwen, ȝalowen, ȝolewen, from Old English ġeolwian, from the adjective.

Etymology 2

From the colors used on traffic lights; yellow being the one for warning vehicles to stop soon.

Word family
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