Definition of 'red'

Word Frequency

red

(red )

Word forms: plural reds , comparative redder , superlative reddest

1. colour

Something that is red is the colour of blood or fire.

...a bunch of red roses.

She had small hands with nails painted bright red.

2. adjective

If you say that someone's face is red, you mean that it is redder than its normal colour, because they are embarrassed, angry, or out of breath.

With a bright red face I was forced to admit that I had no real idea.

She was red with shame.

Synonyms: flushed, embarrassed, blushing, beetroot More Synonyms of red

3. adjective

You describe someone's hair as red when it is between red and brown in colour.

...a girl with red hair.

He is still vain enough to dye his hair red.

4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]

Your red blood cells or red corpuscles are the cells in your blood which carry oxygen around your body.

5. variable noun

You can refer to red wine as red.

The spicy flavours in these dishes call for reds rather than whites.

Synonyms: red wine More Synonyms of red

6. countable noun

If you refer to someone as a red or a Red, you disapprove of the fact that they are a communist, a socialist, or have left-wing ideas.

[informal, disapproval]

They're all so terrified of Reds.

Synonyms: communist, socialist, revolutionary, militant More Synonyms of red

See in the red

See to see red

9. like a red rag to a bull

More Synonyms of red

Video: pronunciation of
red

red in British English 1

(rɛd )

noun

any of a group of colours, such as that of a ripe tomato or fresh blood, that lie at one end of the visible spectrum, next to orange, and are perceived by the eye when light in the approximate wavelength range 740–620 nanometres falls on the retina. Red is the complementary colour of cyan and forms a set of primary colours with blue and green

▶ Related adjectives: rubicund, ruddy

a pigment or dye of or producing these colours

red cloth or clothing

dressed in red

a red ball in snooker, billiards, etc

(in roulette and other gambling games) one of two colours on which players may place even bets, the other being black

6. Also called: inner archery

a red ring on a target, between the blue and the gold, scoring seven points

7. in the red

8. see red

adjectiveWord forms: redder or reddest

of the colour red

10.

reddish in colour or having parts or marks that are reddish

red hair

red deer

11.

having the face temporarily suffused with blood, being a sign of anger, shame, etc

12.

(of the complexion) rosy; florid

13.

(of the eyes) bloodshot

14.

(of the hands) stained with blood, as after committing murder

15.

bloody or violent

red revolution

16.

(of wine) made from black grapes and coloured by their skins

17.

denoting the highest degree of urgency in an emergency; used by the police and the army and informally (esp in the phrase red alert)

18. US

relating to, supporting, or representing the Republican Party

Compare blue (sense 24)

verbWord forms: reds, redding or redded

19. another word for redden

Derived forms

redly (ˈredly)

adverb

redness (ˈredness)

noun

Word origin

Old English rēad; compare Old High German rōt, Gothic rauths, Latin ruber, Greek eruthros, Sanskrit rohita

Word Frequency

red in British English 2

(rɛd )

verbWord forms: reds, redding, red or redded

(transitive) a variant spelling of redd1

Word Frequency

Red in British English

(rɛd ) informal

adjective

Communist, Socialist, or Soviet

radical, leftist, or revolutionary

noun

a member or supporter of a Communist or Socialist Party or a national of a state having such a government, esp the former Soviet Union

a radical, leftist, or revolutionary

Word origin

C19: from the colour chosen to symbolize revolutionary socialism

Word Frequency

red in American English

(rɛd )

noun

a primary color, or any of a spread of colors at the lower end of the visible spectrum, varying in hue from that of blood to pale rose or pink

Example sentences including
red

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Symptoms include red and blue spots and instant hair loss.Look out for foil red and gold signature cards in lucky packets.Nor will they be the only reason for a red face.The pain shot through like a red flame of fire.Those colours have a red oxide base.Light a white candle and hold the red one over the flame.To make the topping, place the red onion and squash onto a baking tray.It produces stunning, if rather disconcerting, red cider and juice.From the age of six, I was bullied for my freckles and red hair. Monuments were cloaked in red and gold.