carmine

/ˈkɑrmaɪn/

/ˈkɑmaɪn/

Other forms: carmines

Carmine is the color red, but it isn’t just any red — it’s a vivid, rich shade of deep ruby or blood red, like a ripe, juicy tomato, a tasty cherry, or a rich red lipstick.

Carmine is a deep red pigment historically made by crushing the dried-out bodies of beetles. This method is still in use, but there are now alternative ways to produce this vibrant red dye, which is commonly used in beauty, fashion, and food products. The term carmine can refer to both the powdered pigment and the color itself. So the next time you encounter a strikingly vivid red — whether in a fabric or a food (like candy or ketchup) — it might just be colored by beetles!

Definitions of carmine

1. adjective

   of the color between orange and purple in the color spectrum; resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies
   synonyms: blood-red, cerise, cherry, cherry-red, crimson, red, reddish, ruby, ruby-red, ruddy, scarlet

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue
2. noun

   a vivid red color between orange and purple in the color spectrum
   synonyms: cardinal

   type of:

   red, redness

   red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood
3. verb

   color a vivid red
   type of:

   redden

   make red