monochrome

/ˌˈmɑnəˈkroʊm/

/ˈmɒnəkrəʊm/

Other forms: monochromes

Things that are monochrome have different tones or shades of only one color. If you prefer to use monochrome film, it means that you love black and white photography.

Use the adjective monochrome to describe something that's a single color. If you've ever watched an old black-and-white movie, you know what monochrome film looks like. You can also call a black-and-white photograph a monochrome. The Greek root, monochromos, means "of a single color," from monos, "single or one," and khroma, "color." Originally, it referred to art drawn or painted in tones of one color.

Definitions of monochrome

1. adjective

   having or appearing to have only one color
   synonyms: monochromatic, monochromic, monochromous

   colored, colorful, coloured

   having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
2. noun

   painting done in a range of tones of a single color
   type of:

   painting, picture

   graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
3. noun

   a black-and-white photograph or slide
   synonyms: black and white

   type of:

   exposure, photo, photograph, pic, picture

   a representation of a person or scene in the form of a print or transparent slide; recorded by a camera on light-sensitive material