orange

1 of 3

noun

or·​ange ˈär-inj 

ˈär(-ə)nj;

chiefly Northern & Midland

ˈȯr-inj 

ˈȯr(-ə)nj

1

a

: a globose berry with a yellowish to reddish-orange rind and a sweet edible pulp

He peeled an orange.

b

: any of various small evergreen citrus trees (genus Citrus) with glossy ovate leaves, hard yellow wood, fragrant white flowers, and fruits that are oranges

2

: any of several trees or fruits resembling the orange

3

: any of a group of colors that are between red and yellow in hue

Orange is about midway between red and yellow in hue.

orange

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adjective (1)

1

: of or relating to the orange

2

: of the color orange

Orange

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adjective (2)

: of, relating to, or sympathizing with Orangemen

Orangeism

ˈär-in-ˌji-zəm

ˈär(ə-)n-

ˈȯr-in- 

ˈȯr(ə-)n-

noun

Examples of orange in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The family of a Syrian woman who was also freed took him to their home and gave him tea and oranges. —Jane Arraf, NPR, 13 Dec. 2024

Food always helps, whether that means oranges during halftime or a meal out when a decision has them down. —Brennan Barnard, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The light from numerous background stars, seen as orange dots behind the cloud, can be used to detect ices in the cloud, which absorb the starlight passing through them. —Alan Taylor, The Atlantic, 13 Dec. 2024

We are surrounded by trees: sycamore, lemon, pomegranate, orange, cypress, elm, maple, and oak. —Ali Martin, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Adjective (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French orrange, araunge, from Old Occitan auranja, from Arabic nāranj, from Persian nārang, from Sanskrit nāraṅga orange tree

First Known Use

Noun

1532, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective (1)

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1795, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing orange

• acridine orange
• bitter orange
• blaze orange
• blood orange
• mandarin orange
• methyl orange
• mock orange
• navel orange
• orange chromide
• orange hawkweed
• orange juice
• orange peel
• orange pekoe
• orange roughy
• Osage orange
• sour orange
• sweet orange
• trifoliate orange
• Valencia orange

Kids Definition

orange

1 of 2 noun

or·​ange ˈär-inj  ˈȯr- 

-ənj

1

a

: a round usually sweet juicy fruit with a yellowish to reddish orange rind

b

: any of various small evergreen citrus trees having shiny leaves, fragrant white flowers, and fruits which are oranges

2

: a color between red and yellow

orange

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of or relating to the orange

2

: of the color orange

Medical Definition

orange

noun

or·​ange ˈär-inj  ˈȯr- 

1

a

: a globose berry with a yellowish to reddish orange rind and a sweet edible pulp

b

: any of various rather small evergreen trees (genus Citrus) with ovate leaves, hard yellow wood, fragrant white flowers, and fruits that are oranges

2

often capitalized : agent orange

Geographical Definition

Orange 1 of 2

geographical name (1)

Or·​ange ˈär-inj 

ˈär(-ə)nj,

ˈȯr-inj,

ˈȯr(-ə)nj

1

city in southwestern California north of Santa Ana population 136,416

2

river 1300 miles (2092 kilometers) long in southern Africa flowing from the Drakensberg Mountains in Lesotho west into the Atlantic Ocean

Orange

2 of 2

geographical name (2)

ȯ-ˈräⁿzh 

city in southeastern France north of Avignon population 29,135