2 ADJ A colour-blind system or organization does not treat people differently according to their race or nationality. □ …the introduction of more colour-blind anti-poverty programmes.
co lour-co ded in AM, use color-coded ADJ Things that are colour-coded use colours to represent different features or functions. □ The contents are emptied into colour-coded buckets.
col|oured /kʌ lə r d/ in AM, use colored 1 ADJ Something that is coloured a particular colour is that colour. □ The illustration shows a cluster of five roses coloured apricot-orange. □ …a cheap gold-coloured bracelet.
2 ADJ Something that is coloured is a particular colour or combination of colours, rather than being just white, black, or the colour that it is naturally. □ You can often choose between plain white or coloured and patterned scarves. □ …brightly-coloured silks laid out on market stalls.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A coloured person belongs to a race of people with dark skins. [OFFENSIVE , OLD-FASHIONED ]
co l|our|fast /kʌ lə r fɑːst, -fæst/ in AM, use colorfast ADJ A fabric that is colourfast has a colour that will not get paler when the fabric is washed or worn.
col|our|ful /kʌ lə r fʊl/ in AM, use colorful 1 ADJ Something that is colourful has bright colours or a lot of different colours. □ The flowers were colourful and the scenery magnificent. □ People wore colourful clothes and seemed to be having a good time. ● col|our|ful|ly ADV □ …the sight of dozens of colourfully-dressed people.
2 ADJ A colourful story is full of exciting details. □ The story she told was certainly colourful, and extended over her life in England, Germany and Spain. □ …the country's colourful and often violent history.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A colourful character is a person who behaves in an interesting and amusing way. □ A colourful character, he likes extravagant gestures.
4 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If someone has had a colourful past or a colourful career, they have been involved in exciting but often slightly shocking things. □ More details surfaced of her colourful past as the story developed.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Colourful language is rude or offensive language. [POLITENESS ]
col|our|ing /kʌ lər I ŋ/ in AM, use coloring 1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The colouring of something is the colour or colours that it is. □ [+ of ] Other countries vary the coloring of their bank notes as well as their size. □ …the scenery was losing its bright colouring.
2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] Someone's colouring is the colour of their hair, skin, and eyes. □ None of them had their father's dark colouring. □ Choose shades which tone in with your natural colouring.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Colouring is a substance that is used to give colour to food. □ A few drops of green food coloring were added.
4 → see also colour
co l|our|ing book (colouring books ) in AM, use coloring book N‑COUNT A colouring book is a book of simple drawings which children can colour in.
col|our|ist /kʌ lər I st/ (colourists ) in AM, use colorist 1 N‑COUNT A colourist is someone such as an artist or a fashion designer who uses colours in an interesting and original way.
2 N‑COUNT A colourist is a hairdresser who specializes in colouring people's hair.
col|our|less /kʌ lə r ləs/ in AM, use colorless 1 ADJ Something that is colourless has no colour at all. □ …a colourless, almost odourless liquid with a sharp, sweetish taste.
2 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If someone's face is colourless , it is very pale, usually because they are frightened, shocked, or ill. □ Her face was colourless, and she was shaking. □ His complexion was colorless and he hadn't shaved.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Colourless people or places are dull and uninteresting. □ We hurried through the colourless little town set on the fast-flowing Nyakchu.
co l|our scheme (colour schemes ) in AM, use color scheme N‑COUNT In a room or house, the colour scheme is the way in which colours have been used to decorate it. □ …a stylish colour scheme of olive green and mustard.
co l|our su p|plement (colour supplements ) N‑COUNT A colour supplement is a colour magazine which is one of the sections of a newspaper, especially at weekends. [BRIT ] in AM, use supplement
colt /koʊ lt/ (colts ) N‑COUNT A colt is a young male horse.
colt|ish /koʊ lt I ʃ/ ADJ A young person or animal that is coltish is full of energy but clumsy or awkward, because they lack physical skill or control. □ …coltish teenagers.
col|umn ◆◇◇ /kɒ ləm/ (columns )
1 N‑COUNT A column is a tall, often decorated cylinder of stone which is built to honour someone or forms part of a building. □ …a London landmark, Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square.
2 N‑COUNT A column is something that has a tall narrow shape. □ [+ of ] The explosion sent a column of smoke thousands of feet into the air.
3 N‑COUNT A column is a group of people or animals which moves in a long line. □ [+ of ] There were reports of columns of military vehicles appearing on the streets.
4 N‑COUNT On a printed page such as a page of a dictionary, newspaper, or printed chart, a column is one of two or more vertical sections which are read downwards. □ [+ of ] We had stupidly been looking at the wrong column of figures.
5 N‑COUNT In a newspaper or magazine, a column is a section that is always written by the same person or is always about the same topic. □ [+ for ] She also writes a regular column for the Times Educational Supplement.