I. ˈdī noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English dehe, from Old English dēah, dēag; akin to Old English dīegol secret, hidden, Old Saxon dōgalnussi secret, hiding place, Old High German tugōn to become variegated, tougan dark, hidden, secret, Latin fumus smoke — more at fume
1. : color produced by dyeing
2. : a natural or especially a synthetic coloring matter whether soluble or insoluble that is used to color materials (as textiles, paper, leather, or plastics) usually from a solution or fine dispersion and sometimes with the aid of a mordant — called also dyestuff ; compare pigment , stain , tint ; see dye table
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- of deepest dye
II. verb
( dyed ; dyed ; dyeing ; dyes )
Etymology: Middle English dyen, from Old English dēagian, dēgian, from dēag, dēah
transitive verb
1. : to color throughout : impart a new and often permanent color to especially by impregnating with a dye — compare dyeing 1 : stain , tint
2.
a. : to impart (a color) by dyeing
dye a blue over a yellow
b. : to cause (a dye) to be applied
3. : to color or tinge in any way
a warm flush dyed her cheeks — Ellen Glasgow
: stain
dyed his hands in the blood of innocents
intransitive verb
: to take up or impart color in dyeing
wool dyes readily with acid dyes
level dyeing properties of acid dyes