umber

/ˈʌmbər/

Other forms: umbers

Umber is a dark brown or reddish-brown pigment that is found in certain minerals. Ever since humans started creating art, they've been using umber.

Pigments are the shades of color that painters and other artists use, and when they occur naturally, they're called earth pigments. Umber falls into this category — its rich, deep brown shade comes directly from minerals (raw umber) or from minerals heated to a darker shade (burnt umber). Today, oil painters still use umber when they need a fast-drying brown pigment. Umber gets its name from a region in Italy where it's common, Umbria.

Definitions of umber

1. noun

   an earth pigment
   types:

   raw umber

   greenish brown pigment

   burnt umber

   dark brown pigment obtained by heating umber

   type of:

   earth color

   a colored mineral used as a pigment
2. noun

   a medium brown to dark-brown color
   synonyms: burnt umber, chocolate, coffee, deep brown

   type of:

   brown, brownness

   an orange of low brightness and saturation
3. adjective

   of the color of any of various natural brown earth pigments
   synonyms:

   chromatic

   being, having, or characterized by hue