crimson

1 of 3

noun

crim·​son ˈkrim-zən How to pronounce crimson (audio)
: any of several deep purplish reds

crimson

2 of 3

adjective

: of the color crimson

crimson

3 of 3

verb

crimsoned; crimsoning; crimsons

transitive verb

: to make crimson

intransitive verb

: to become crimson
especially : blush

Examples of crimson in a Sentence

Verb he crimsoned the minute he realized the foolishness of what he'd said
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Rows and rows of poinsettias, thousands of them, spread across the concrete floors in a sea of crimson, the scent of damp soil and the blinding brightness of the blooms hitting my senses instantly. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024 In fact, with toes this naturally glowing, there was no longer a need for even a barely-there coat of nude, let alone my go-to deep crimson. Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2024
Adjective
In the end, the Minnesota museum was not the mystery buyer who snagged the crimson slippers over the weekend. Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024 The rest of her makeup, by Carolina Gonzalez, was perfectly festive, with a sparkling, shimmery eye shadow and bright crimson lip reminiscent of the Grinch's Santa suit. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
Rhubarb is primarily depicted in various shades of red, but depending on the variety, its color can range from pale green to crimson. Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024 The same gochugaru, or red-pepper powder, that stains crimson a head of napa cabbage kimchi is also used in other banchan, various dressed salads called muchims and uplifting jorims, or braises. New York Times, 13 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for crimson 

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English crimisin, from Old Spanish cremesín, from Arabic qirmizī, from qirmiz kermes

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of crimson was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near crimson

Cite this Entry

“Crimson.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crimson. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

crimson

1 of 2 noun
crim·​son ˈkrim-zən How to pronounce crimson (audio)
: a deep purplish red
crimson adjective

crimson

2 of 2 verb
: to make or become crimson

More from Merriam-Webster on crimson

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!