auburn

/ˈɔbərn/

/ˈɒbən/

Auburn is a reddish-brown color. If you ask a hairdresser to color your hair auburn, you'll be disappointed to end up with bright red curls.

Auburn almost always describes hair color — you might talk about your favorite childhood doll's long auburn hair, for example. The earliest meaning of auburn was "yellowish-white," not "reddish-brown," from the Medieval Latin alburnus, "off-white" or "whitish," from the Latin albus, or "white." In the 16th century it was influenced by the Middle English word brun, "brown," and the meaning changed.

Definitions of auburn

1. adjective

   (of hair) colored a moderate reddish-brown
   “auburn hair”

   synonyms:

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue