earth tone

noun

: any of various rich colors containing some brown
When fashion becomes elaborate, makeup colors take a quieter stance. Earth tones in particular—mustard, cocoa, taupe, and wheat—are well suited to this monochromatic look.Anna Quinn
From the mellow earth tones of old stone walls to the brilliant colors of space-age titanium, the bodegas of Spain's most prestigious wine region embody a dynamic culture of architecture …Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen
earth-toned adjective

Examples of earth tone in a Sentence

She wears a lot of earth tones.
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.
The spacious and airy lobby is decorated with white and natural earth tones. Vanessa Wilkins, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2024 Think tons of light oak wood and lots of earth tones, plus splashes of black, brass, and swaths of marble. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 25 Oct. 2024 The soft and sun-faded pastels seen in Milan carried over, with muted earth tones and rich burgundy as key colors of the season, with pops of blue from aqua to electric. Rhonda Richford, WWD, 2 Oct. 2024 The 2017 Suspiria is a three-hour odyssey into tightly woven female relationships that create an insular hive of dancers and witches living against the backdrop of political unrest in ’70s Berlin — and everyone is in earth tones this time around! Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for earth tone 

Word History

First Known Use

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of earth tone was in 1973

Dictionary Entries Near earth tone

Cite this Entry

“Earth tone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/earth%20tone. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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