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Definition of dye

dye

/daɪ/
dye
Plural:dyes
•
Past Simple:dyed
•
Past Participle:dyed
•
Present Participle:dyeing
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dye Lexical Profile

dye Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A natural or synthetic substance used to add color to or change the color of textiles, hair, wood, or other materials.

Example

"She used a vibrant blue dye to transform her old cotton shirt."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dye
Antonyms
View all antonyms for dye

• verb

1

To add a color to or change the color of something by soaking it in a colored solution.

Example

"He decided to dye his hair bright green for the charity event."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dye
Antonyms
View all antonyms for dye

Word Nuance & Usage

The word 'dye' and its present participle 'dyeing' are frequently confused with their homophones 'die' and 'dying' (referring to the cessation of life).

• Rhymes for dye

• Nearby Words

dwelling
dwellinghouse
dwindle
dye
dyeable
dyer
dyke

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'dēag' (color, hue, dye) and 'dēagian' (to dye). Its deeper origin outside of Germanic languages remains uncertain.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dye. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 10, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dye
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