indigo

/ˌɪndəˈgoʊ/

/ˈɪndɪgəʊ/

Other forms: indigoes; indigos

Indigo is a flowering plant that's native to Asia, and it's also the name of a deep blue dye made from the leaves of the indigo plant. You can also use the word to mean the shade of blue itself.

The indigo plant is in the pea family. While this plant often has brightly colored flowers, indigo dye is traditionally made from the plant's leaves. This type of tint was once the most common natural dye in the world — though today, most of what's called indigo is synthetically made. Indigo is also one of the colors of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. The Greek root indikon means "blue dye from India."

Definitions of indigo

1. noun

   deciduous subshrub of southeastern Asia having pinnate leaves and clusters of red or purple flowers; a source of indigo dye
   synonyms: Indigofera tinctoria, indigo plant

   types:

   Indigofera anil, Indigofera suffruticosa, anil

   shrub of West Indies and South America that is a source of indigo dye

   type of:

   bush, shrub

   a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
2. noun

   a blue dye obtained from plants or made synthetically
   synonyms: anil, indigotin

   type of:

   dye, dyestuff

   a usually soluble substance for staining or coloring e.g. fabrics or hair
3. noun

   a blue-violet color
   type of:

   reddish blue, violet

   a variable color that lies beyond blue in the spectrum
4. adjective

   having a color between blue and violet
   “indigo flowers”

   synonyms:

   colored, colorful, coloured

   having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination