~ 1
■ adjective
1》 of a colour intermediate between red and white, as of coral or salmon.
2》 informal, often derogatory left-wing.
3》 of or associated with homosexuals: the ~ economy.
■ noun
1》 ~ colour, pigment, or material.
↘(also hunting ~ ) the red clothing or material worn by fox-hunters.
2》 ( the ~ ) informal the best condition or degree.
3》 informal, often derogatory a left-wing person.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
C17: from ~ 2 .
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~ 2
■ noun a plant with sweet-smelling ~ or white flowers and slender grey-green leaves. [Genus Dianthus .]
Origin
C16: perh. short for ~ eye , lit. 'small or half-shut eye'.
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~ 3
■ verb
1》 cut a scalloped or zigzag edge on.
2》 archaic decorate.
Origin
C16 (in the sense 'pierce or nick slightly'): cf. Low Ger. ~en 'strike, peck'.
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~ 4
■ verb Brit. (of a vehicle engine) make rattling sounds as a result of over-rapid combustion of the fuel–air mixture in the cylinders.
Origin
early 20th cent.: imitative.
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~ 5
■ noun historical a small square-rigged sailing ship with a narrow overhanging stern.
Origin
C15: from MDu. pin(c)ke , of unknown ultimate origin.
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~ 6
■ noun dated a yellowish lake pigment made by combining vegetable colouring matter with a white base.
Origin
C17: of unknown origin.