WATER-COLOUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does water-colour mean? 

• WATER-COLOUR (noun)
  The noun WATER-COLOUR has 4 senses:

1. water-soluble pigment

2. a water-base paint (with water-soluble pigments); used by artists

3. a painting produced with watercolors

4. the art or technique of painting with watercolors

  Familiarity information: WATER-COLOUR used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WATER-COLOUR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Water-soluble pigment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

water-color; water-colour; watercolor; watercolour

Hypernyms ("water-colour" is a kind of...):

pigment (dry coloring material (especially a powder to be mixed with a liquid to produce paint, etc.))

Sense 2

Meaning:

A water-base paint (with water-soluble pigments); used by artists

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

water-color; water-colour; watercolor; watercolour

Hypernyms ("water-colour" is a kind of...):

water-base paint (paint in which water is used as the vehicle)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "water-colour"):

gouache (an opaque watercolor prepared with gum)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A painting produced with watercolors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

water-color; water-colour; watercolor; watercolour

Hypernyms ("water-colour" is a kind of...):

painting; picture (graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "water-colour"):

gouache (a watercolor executed with opaque watercolors mixed with gum)

wash; wash drawing (a watercolor made by applying a series of monochrome washes one over the other)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The art or technique of painting with watercolors

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

water-color; water-colour; watercolor; watercolour

Hypernyms ("water-colour" is a kind of...):

painting (creating a picture with paints)

 Context examples 

Miniatures, half-lengths, whole-lengths, pencil, crayon, and water-colours had been all tried in turn.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

I promised to contribute a water-colour drawing: this put her at once into good humour.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Dear mama, only think, my cousin cannot put the map of Europe together—or my cousin cannot tell the principal rivers in Russia—or, she never heard of Asia Minor—or she does not know the difference between water-colours and crayons!

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

It was to be a whole-length in water-colours, like Mr. John Knightley's, and was destined, if she could please herself, to hold a very honourable station over the mantelpiece.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

These pictures were in water-colours.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)