I. ˈəmbə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English umbre, from Middle French, from Latin umbra shade, shadow, grayling
1. : a grayling ( Thymallus thymallus )
2. also umber bird : hammerkop
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably from obsolete English, shade, shadow, color, from Middle English umber, umbre shade, shadow, from Middle French umbre, from Latin umbra — more at umbrage
1. : a brown earth that is darker in color than ocher and sienna because of its content of manganese oxides as well as iron oxides, that is highly valued by artists as a permanent pigment, and that is used either in the greenish brown raw state or dark brown burnt state — see burnt umber
2.
a. : raw umber 2
b. : burnt umber 2
III. adjective
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of umber ; specifically : of the color of raw umber or burnt umber
IV. transitive verb
( umbered ; umbered ; umbering -b(ə)riŋ ; umbers )
: to stain umber : darken
each battle sees the other's umbered face — Shakespeare
V. transitive verb
Etymology: Latin umbrare, from umbra shade, shadow
chiefly dialect : shade II 1