Dictionary
Thesaurus
Medical
Scrabble®
Spanish Central
Browse DictionaryBrowse Thesaurus
Get our free apps!iPhone•iPad•Android
Games
Word of the Day
Video
Blog: Words at Play
My Faves
Dictionary

1dye

noun \ˈdī\

: a substance used for changing the color of something (such as hair or cloth) usually permanently

Full Definition of DYE

1
:  color from dyeing
2
:  a soluble or insoluble coloring matter
See dye defined for English-language learners
See dye defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT

Origin of DYE

Middle English dehe, from Old English dēah, dēag
First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to DYE

Synonyms
color, colorant, coloring, pigment, dyestuff, stain

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

bloom, craze, medium, size, vehicle

Rhymes with DYE

ay, aye, bi, Bligh, buy, by, bye, chai, chi, cry, die, dry, eye, fie, fly, fry, guy, hie, high, Huai, i, I, lie, lye, my, nigh, phi, pi, pie, ply, pry, psi, rye, scythe, shy, sigh, sky, Skye, sly, spry, spy, sty, Tai, Thai, thigh, thy, tie, try, vie, why, wry, wye, xi, Y

2dye

verb

: to change the color of (something, such as hair or cloth) by using a dye

dyeddye·ing

Full Definition of DYE

transitive verb
1
:  to impart a new and often permanent color to especially by impregnating with a dye
2
:  to impart (a color) by dyeing
intransitive verb
:  to take up or impart color in dyeing
— dye·abil·i·ty \ˌdī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun
— dye·able \ˈdī-ə-bəl\ adjective
— dy·er \ˈdī(-ə)r\ noun
See dye defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of DYE

before 12th century

Related to DYE

Synonyms
bepaint [archaic], color, paint, pigment, stain, tincture, tinge, tint
Antonyms
decolorize

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

bloom, craze, medium, size, vehicle
DYE Defined for Kids

1dye

noun \ˈdī\

Definition of DYE for Kids

:  a substance used to change the color of something <hair dye>

2dye

verb
dyeddye·ing

Definition of DYE for Kids

:  to change the color of something using a substance

Learn More About DYE

Browse

76 ENTRIES FOUND:
  1. dye
  2. dye base
  3. dye-bleach process
  4. dye intermediate
  5. dye shell
  6. dye toning
  7. dye transfer
  8. acridine dye
  9. aniline dye
  10. anthracene dye
  11. anthraquinone dye
  12. azo dye
  13. Benzo dye
  14. biological dye
  15. brilliant dye
  16. chrome dye
  17. coal-tar dye
  18. Congo dye
  19. cotton dye
  20. cross-dye
  21. Cross Dye Black RX
  22. developed dye
  23. developing dye
  24. diamine dye
  25. diamond dye
  26. dip-dye
  27. diphenyl dye
  28. direct dye
  29. disperse dye
  30. dry-dye
Next Word in the Dictionary: dye basePrevious Word in the Dictionary: dybbukAll Words Near: dye
ADVERTISEMENT
10 Charming Words for Nasty People
Put-downs with flair
Learn More
When "Literally" isn't, well, literal
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Watch Now
Know what this is?
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Go Play
Fear of cats?
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears
Learn More
Join Us
Merriam-Webster
on Facebook
Merriam-Webster
on Twitter
Bookstore: Digital and Print
Merriam-Webster references for Mobile, Kindle, print, and more.
See All
Other Merriam-Webster Dictionaries