crimson

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B2 — Upper-Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a deep and vivid red color
  2. verb turn red, as if in embarrassment or shame
  3. adjective of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or tomatoes or rubies

Etymology

PIE word *kʷŕ̥mis Late Middle English cremesyn, from obsolete French cramoisin or Old Spanish cremesín, from Arabic قِرْمِز (qirmiz), from Classical Persian کرمست (kirmist), from Middle Persian; see Proto-Indo-Iranian *kŕ̥miš. Cognate with Sanskrit कृमिज (kṛmija). Doublet of kermes; also see carmine.

In classic literature

Synonyms

ruby, deep red

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