Crimson Meaning
/ˈkɹɪmzən/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA deep, slightly bluish red.
adjHaving a deep red colour.
Sentence Examples
Give me these 8 crimson apples please.
The western sky glowed with crimson.
On the horizon, the crimson sun is sinking into the sea.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The setting sun painted the entire western sky a deep shade of ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Give me these 8 ____ apples please.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"To my horror I perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson."
— 1904 January 30, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “The Adventure of the Priory School”, in The Return of Sherlock Holmes, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., published February 1905, →OCLC:
"Breezes blowing from beds of iris quickened her breath with their perfume; she saw the tufted lilacs sway in the wind, and the streamers of mauve-tinted wistaria swinging, all a-glisten with golden bees; she saw a crimson cardinal winging through the foliage, and amorous tanagers flashing like scarlet flames athwart the pines."
— 1907 August, Robert W[illiam] Chambers, “Afterglow”, in The Younger Set, New York, N.Y.: D. Appleton & Company, →OCLC, page 168:
"Her crimson dress inflames grey corridors, or flaring in a sunshaft through high branches makes of the deep green shadows a greenness darker yet, and a darkness greener."
— 1950, Mervyn Peake, Gormenghast:
"Eugenie's quick apprehensions seized the foul thought. Her eyes flashed—her cheek crimsoned."
— 1841, [Edward Bulwer-Lytton], chapter XIII, in Night and Morning […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: Saunders and Otley, […], →OCLC:
"Gerty MacDowell bent down her head and crimsoned at the idea of Cissy saying an unladylike thing like that out loud she'd be ashamed of her life to say, flushing a deep rosy red, and Edy Boardman said she was sure the gentleman opposite heard what she said. But not a pin cared Ciss."
— 1922 February, James Joyce, “[13]”, in Ulysses, Paris: Shakespeare and Company, […], →OCLC:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The setting sun painted the entire western sky a deep shade of ____.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Give me these 8 ____ apples please.