Definitions for purple
ˈpɜr pəlpur·ple

Princeton's WordNet(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. purple, purpleness(noun)

   a purple color or pigment

2. purple(adj)

   of imperial status

   "he was born to the purple"

3. purple, violet, purplish(adj)

   of a color intermediate between red and blue

4. empurpled, over-embellished, purple(adj)

   excessively elaborate or showily expressed

   "a writer of empurpled literature"; "many purple passages"; "an over-embellished story of the fish that got away"

5. imperial, majestic, purple, regal, royal(verb)

   belonging to or befitting a supreme ruler

   "golden age of imperial splendor"; "purple tyrant"; "regal attire"; "treated with royal acclaim"; "the royal carriage of a stag's head"

6. purple(verb)

   become purple

7. purple, empurple, purpurate(verb)

   color purple

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. purple(Noun)

   The colour worn by an emperor or king; by extension, imperial power.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

2. purple(Noun)

   Any of various species of mollusks from which Tyrian purple dye was obtained, especially the common dog whelk.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

3. purple(Noun)

   the purple haze cultivar of cannabis in the kush family, either pure or mixed with others, or by extension any variety of smoked marijuana

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

4. purple(Verb)

   To turn purple in colour.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

5. purple(Adjective)

   Having a colour/color that is a dark blend of red and blue.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

6. purple(Adjective)

   Not predominantly red or blue, but having a mixture of Democrat and Republican support, as in purple state, purple city.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

7. purple(Adjective)

   Mixed between social democrats and liberals.

   Etymology: From purpel, from purple, purpure, from purpura, from πορφύρα, of Semitic origin.

Webster Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Purple(noun)

   a color formed by, or resembling that formed by, a combination of the primary colors red and blue

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

2. Purple(noun)

   cloth dyed a purple color, or a garment of such color; especially, a purple robe, worn as an emblem of rank or authority; specifically, the purple rode or mantle worn by Roman emperors as the emblem of imperial dignity; as, to put on the imperial purple

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

3. Purple(noun)

   hence: Imperial sovereignty; royal rank, dignity, or favor; loosely and colloquially, any exalted station; great wealth

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

4. Purple(noun)

   a cardinalate. See Cardinal

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

5. Purple(noun)

   any species of large butterflies, usually marked with purple or blue, of the genus Basilarchia (formerly Limenitis) as, the banded purple (B. arthemis). See Illust. under Ursula

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

6. Purple(noun)

   any shell of the genus Purpura

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

7. Purple(noun)

   see Purpura

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

8. Purple(noun)

   a disease of wheat. Same as Earcockle

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

9. Purple(adj)

   exhibiting or possessing the color called purple, much esteemed for its richness and beauty; of a deep red, or red and blue color; as, a purple robe

   Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

10. Purple(adj)

    imperial; regal; -- so called from the color having been an emblem of imperial authority

    Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

11. Purple(adj)

    blood-red; bloody

    Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

12. Purple(verb)

    to make purple; to dye of purple or deep red color; as, hands purpled with blood

    Etymology: [OE. purpre, pourpre, OF. purpre, porpre, pourpre, F. pourpre, L. purpura purple fish, purple dye, fr. Gr. the purple fish, a shell from the purple dye was obtained, purple dye; cf. dark (said of the sea), purple, to grow dark (said of the sea), to be troubled; perh. akin to L. furere to rage, E. fury: cf. AS. purpure. Cf. Porphyry, Purpure.]

Freebase(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Purple

   Purple is a range of hues of color occurring between red and blue. The Oxford English Dictionary describes it as a deep, rich shade between crimson and violet. In the ancient world, purple was the color worn by Roman Emperors and magistrates, and later by Roman Catholic bishops. Since that time, purple has been commonly associated with royalty and piety.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Purple

   pur′pl, n. a very dark-red colour formed by the mixture of blue and red: a purple dress or robe, originally worn only by royalty: a robe of honour: the dignity of a king or emperor: a cardinalate, so called from the red hat and robes worn by cardinals.—adj. red tinged with blue: blood-red: bloody.—v.t. to dye purple: to clothe with purple.—v.i. to become purple in colour.—n. Pur′ple-fish, a shellfish of genus Purpura.—adjs. Pur′ple-frost′y (Tenn.), purple with frost or cold; Pur′ple-hued (Shak.), having a purple hue.—n.pl. Pur′ples, petechiæ or spots of livid red on the body: a disease of wheat: an early purple-flowered orchid.—adj. Pur′ple-spiked, having purple spikes.—ns. Pur′ple-wood, -heart, the heartwood of Copaifera pubiflora, used for ramrods.—adj. Pur′plish, somewhat purple.—Purple emperor, one of the largest of British butterflies, and one of the most richly coloured.—Born in the purple, of princely rank or birth; Tyrian purple, a fine purple dye for which the people of ancient Tyre were celebrated. [O. Fr. porpre (Fr. pourpre)—L. purpura—Gr. porphyra, the purple-fish.]

Etymology and Origins(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Purple

   This dye, in which the people of Tyre excelled, was discovered in the following manner:--One day a favourite dog of Hercules of Tyre ate a species of fish known to the ancients by the name of purpura, and on returning to his master his lips were found to be tinged with the colour, which, after a few experiments, Hercules successfully imitated.

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'purple' in Written Corpus Frequency: #4541

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'purple' in Adjectives Frequency: #950

How to pronounce purple?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

How to say purple in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of purple in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of purple in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of purple in a Sentence

1. Jeb Bush:

   I was (governor for) eight years in Florida, a purple state -- 500,000 more Democrats that Republicans -- where I applied conservative principles and reformed some big things that seldom are reformed.

2. Jeb Bush:

   I think [candidate quality] is very important, especially given the fact that we have the Senate and we'll want to make sure that we maintain it — and we have a map with a lot of Republican senators who are up for reelection in purple or blue states that Obama won.

3. Amy Klobuchars:

   Some Klobuchar aides can do Some Klobuchar aides by electing Midwestern Democrats in blue, purple, and red districts and states across the country.

4. Tiffani Lee:

   She calmed down because we got to talking about nail polish. She had on pink and I had on Easter purple.

5. Maya Rudolph:

   ' Purple Rain' hit me really hard.

Images & Illustrations of purple

Popularity rank by frequency of use