Color Theory Vocabulary

adjective a color intermediate between green and violet, as of the sky or sea on a sunny day

• The sky was a brilliant shade of blue on a clear summer day.
• I love your new blue dress, it looks great on you!
• That car is so blue, it's definitely a head-turner.
• She was feeling blue after hearing the bad news.

noun a color or hue

adjective relating to or using notes not belonging to the diatonic scale of a key

• The artist used a chromatic color scheme to create a visually striking painting.
• I love how the movie's cinematography was so chromatic, it really added to the overall vibe.
• The new car comes in a variety of chromatic colors, I can't decide which one I like best!
• Her emotions were like a chromatic spectrum, ranging from joy to sorrow in an instant.

noun a thing that completes or brings out the best in something else

adjective describes something that completes or enhances something else

• The two companies formed a complementary partnership to enhance their respective strengths.
• The colors of your outfit are complementary and really make you stand out.
• Those shoes are so complementary to your style, I love them!
• His calm demeanor was complementary to her fiery personality, creating a perfect balance.

adjective describing something that has two colors or tones

• The artist's use of a dichromatic color scheme created a striking visual impact in the painting.
• I love how that movie poster is dichromatic, it really stands out.
• That car with the dichromatic paint job is sick!
• His dichromatic view of the world often led to misunderstandings with others.

noun the entire scale or range of something

• The artist's painting showcased a gamut of colors, from vibrant reds to subtle blues.
• The new restaurant offers a gamut of options on their menu, from burgers to salads.
• I just binge-watched a gamut of TV shows over the weekend.
• Her emotions ran the gamut from joy to despair during the rollercoaster of a day.

adjective obtrusively bright and showy; lurid

• The garish decorations at the event were overwhelming and clashed with the elegant theme.
• I can't believe she bought that garish shirt, it's so bright and flashy.
• That car with the garish paint job is totally over the top.
• Her garish personality always seems to attract attention wherever she goes.

noun a stage in a process of change or development

adjective relating to or denoting a series of successive stages or degrees

• The artist used a subtle gradation of colors to create a sense of depth in the painting.
• I love how the sunset has a beautiful gradation of colors from pink to orange.
• That hairstyle has a cool gradation going from dark to light at the tips.
• The gradation of emotions in the novel's climax left readers on the edge of their seats.

noun the act or process of ingraining something

verb to firmly establish or fix (a habit, belief, or attitude) in a person or group

adjective deeply rooted or firmly established

• It is important to ingrain the company's values in all employees.
• I try to ingrain good study habits in my children from a young age.
• She's really trying to ingrain the new dance move in her routine.
• The traumatic experience seemed to ingrain itself in his memory forever.

adjective causing a physical or emotional shock or disturbance; discordant or harsh in sound

• The sudden change in tone was quite jarring during the business meeting.
• The loud music was really jarring at the party last night.
• The jump scare in the movie was so jarring, I nearly spilled my drink.
• The disconnect between their words and actions was jarring, making it hard to trust them.

noun a dark red color

verb to leave someone trapped in a place, such as a desert island

• The maroon color of the curtains complemented the beige walls perfectly.
• I found a maroon sweater on sale at the mall.
• She's always wearing those maroon kicks.
• After missing the train, he felt marooned in the station with no way to get home.

adjective describing something that is of one color or shades of one color

• The artist's monochromatic painting featured various shades of blue.
• I love how your outfit is monochromatic, it looks really put together.
• That monochromatic room is giving me major minimalist vibes.
• His monochromatic view of the world limited his ability to see its true beauty.

noun a term used to describe an animal with multicolored fur or feathers

• The dog's coat displayed a beautiful parti color pattern of black and white.
• I love how your cat's fur is parti color with patches of different shades.
• Check out that parti color car with the unique paint job!
• Her artwork was like a parti color masterpiece, blending different colors seamlessly.

noun a soft and delicate shade or hue

adjective having a soft and delicate shade or hue

• The artist used a delicate pastel color palette in her latest painting.
• I love wearing pastel colors in the springtime.
• Those pastel sneakers are fire!
• Her pastel personality shone through in her gentle demeanor.

adjective describing something that has a pitch or tone, often used to describe a voice or sound that is off-key or unpleasant

• The singer's performance was criticized for being pitchy during the live concert.
• I can't believe how pitchy that karaoke singer was last night!
• Her voice was so pitchy, it was like nails on a chalkboard.
• The pitchy atmosphere in the meeting room made it hard to concentrate.

adjective relating to or having the form of a prism; exhibiting a play of colors like that of a prism

• The scientist used a prismatic lens to separate the different wavelengths of light.
• I bought a prismatic phone case that changes colors when you move it.
• Check out these prismatic sunglasses, they're so cool!
• Her prismatic personality shines brightly in any situation.

noun a color intermediate between red and blue

adjective of a color intermediate between red and blue

• The queen's robe was a regal shade of purple.
• I love wearing purple because it makes me feel unique.
• That concert was so purple, man!
• Her words painted a purple picture of the sunset.

noun any of a number of similar colors evoked by light in the wavelength range of 630-740 nm

adjective a color at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies

• The red dress she wore to the gala was stunning.
• I love your red sneakers, they look so cool.
• That car is so red, it's sick!
• His face turned as red as a tomato when he was embarrassed.

noun A shade or variety of color

verb To color with or as if with a tint

• The artist applied a light blue tint to the sky in her painting.
• I'm thinking of getting my car windows tinted for the summer.
• I love the tint on those sunglasses, they look so cool.
• The nostalgia of the old photograph had a tint of sadness to it.

noun a quality of a musical sound or voice produced by a steady even emission of a continuous range of sound waves or frequencies

adjective relating to or having tones or a tone; characterized by or capable of producing a tone or tones

• The composer used tonal variations to create a sense of harmony in the symphony.
• I love how the tonal quality of this guitar sounds.
• That song has such a cool tonal vibe to it.
• Her speech had a tonal quality that resonated with the audience.

noun a flag or banner with three different colors

adjective having three colors

• The national flag of India is known for its tricolor design of saffron, white, and green.
• I love wearing tricolor outfits during Independence Day celebrations.
• Check out my new tricolor kicks, they're so cool!
• The tricolor of emotions - happiness, sadness, and anger - were all present in her eyes.

noun a subdued or muted tone or quality

verb none

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The speaker's words had a subtle undertone of disapproval.
• There was an undertone of excitement in her voice when she talked about the party.
• I could sense an undertone of jealousy in her tone.
• The painting had an undertone of melancholy that spoke to the viewer's soul.

noun the quality of being full of energy and life; brightness

adjective vibrant

• The city's vibrancy can be seen in its bustling markets and lively cultural events.
• I love the vibrancy of this neighborhood with all its colorful street art and trendy cafes.
• The party last night had so much vibrancy, everyone was dancing and having a great time.
• Her personality has a vibrancy that lights up the room whenever she enters.

adjective describing a color, sound, or atmosphere that is full of energy and life

• The city's vibrant arts scene attracts visitors from around the world.
• I love going to that vibrant market on weekends to buy fresh produce.
• The party last night was so vibrant, everyone was dancing and having a great time.
• Her personality is so vibrant, she lights up any room she enters.

noun A type of light blue color traditionally used to paint porch ceilings in the Southern United States, believed to ward off evil spirits or 'haints'

• The historic homes in the southern United States are often painted in a shade of haint blue to ward off evil spirits.
• My grandma swears by painting her porch ceiling haint blue to keep away bad luck.
• I heard that painting your door haint blue is the new trend for superstitious folks.
• The calmness of the haint blue sky seemed to wash away all of her worries.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'ceiling' is a noun as it refers to the upper interior surface of a room.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this case, 'grey' is an adjective as it describes the color of the ceiling.

• The grey ceiling in the office gave the room a somber atmosphere.
• I painted my room with a grey ceiling to match my furniture.
• The grey ceiling in this place is so drab, we need to liven it up.
• He felt like he was always hitting a grey ceiling in his career, unable to progress further.

noun a term used in the rug industry to describe variations in color or shading that occur naturally in the weaving process

• The abrash in the carpet is a result of the different dye lots used in the weaving process.
• I love how the abrash in this rug gives it a unique and vintage look.
• Check out the cool abrash on this handmade rug, it adds character to the design.
• The abrash in her painting symbolizes the ups and downs of life, creating a sense of movement and depth.

noun the quality or state of being achromatic, or without color

• The achromaticity of the design gave it a timeless and elegant appeal.
• The lack of color in the painting added to its simplicity and beauty.
• That black and white photo has a cool achromaticity to it.
• The achromaticity of his personality made it hard to read his true emotions.

noun a type of finish or coating applied to a surface after it has been chromed

• The afterchrome coating on the metal surface provides excellent corrosion resistance.
• I love how shiny and smooth the afterchrome finish looks on my car.
• Check out the afterchrome on that bike, it's so bling!
• The afterchrome of success was finally within his reach after years of hard work.