Definition of red in English:

1Of a colour at the end of the spectrum next to orange and opposite violet, as of blood, fire, or rubies.

1. 1.1(of a person or their face) flushed or rosy, especially with embarrassment, anger, or heat.
   ‘there were some red faces in headquarters’
   ‘he went bright red’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Oshino's face was red with anger and embarrassment and he stormed off angrily.’
   • ‘His body was shaking and his own face was red in anger and shame.’
   • ‘The man's face was red from anger and he was about to carry on his yelling fit, but Ali began a coughing fit.’
   • ‘The man yelled in her face, spit was falling everywhere and the man's face was red with anger.’
   • ‘His face was red with anger, and he looked rather like a handsome tomato.’
   • ‘Nicole's face was red with heat and she and I leaned on one another to get to the downstairs group room.’
   • ‘I knew by the time his eyes reached my chest area my face was embarrassingly red.’
   • ‘Her face was red with anger and her eyes were still wet as tears flowed freely down her cheeks.’
   • ‘It reassured me that everything was okay between us but I was still red with embarrassment.’
   • ‘Many people's faces in the audience were red and sweaty because of the heat.’
   • ‘His face was very red, but Pegasus couldn't tell if it was anger or embarrassment.’
   • ‘His face was still red, he could feel his cheeks burning with the embarrassment.’
   • ‘She was red in the face, partly from embarrassment and partly from being rushed off her feet - the inn was unusually busy.’
   • ‘She was panting hard and her face was really red, like she was embarrassed to be late.’
   • ‘The red faces say it all, they're exhausted but glad to have made it.’
   • ‘He let go of her hand and hugged me hard, burying his red face in my neck.’
   • ‘But I pull myself together, puffy red face and all, and go back to the station to fix my mistake.’
   • ‘The inhibitions disappear and the red face is a result of happy exertion rather than excruciating bashfulness.’
   • ‘My ankles often collapsed underneath me, leaving me with grazed hands and ankles and a red face.’
   • ‘Her face was red and she grimaced more from the pain than the bitter cold.’
   Synonyms

   flushed, reddish, pink, pinkish, florid, high-coloured, rubicund, roseate

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2. 1.2(of a person's eyes) bloodshot or having pink rims, especially with tiredness or crying.
   ‘her eyes were red and swollen’
   More example sentences

   • ‘His eyes were red and bloodshot and he looked worn and tattered with emotion.’
   • ‘Jasmine, whose eyes were red and puffy and bloodshot, stood up, wiping her nose with the tissue in her hand.’
   • ‘Rosalie had her hair was in a long single messy braid, and her eyes were red and bloodshot.’
   • ‘She was still trying to hide her face, for her eyes were red and swollen from all the crying.’
   • ‘Her eyes were still red and swollen, though she still had a brightening smile over her face.’
   • ‘His eyes were red and swollen and he looked taller and older than she remembered.’
   • ‘Her eyes were red and swollen, something I hadn't noticed earlier because of the way her hair shielded her face.’
   • ‘My eyes were red and stinging by the time my crying spell passed, and Julius was asking for a walk.’
   • ‘Her eyes were red and puffy from all the crying she had done all night.’
   • ‘Her eyes were red and puffy, her cheeks pink, her hair a mess, actually she in general was a mess.’
   • ‘She looked at me, sitting in my desk frozen, and her eyes were red and teary.’
   • ‘My eyes were red and I was holding a scrunched up tissue in my hand.’
   • ‘I wept every night, sometimes so long, that in the morning, my eyes were still red.’
   • ‘His eyes were red, but his behavior was perfectly normal, as though it were just an ordinary day.’
   • ‘His eyes were red and there were circles underneath them when at last he woke, very early in the morning.’
   • ‘My eyes were red and puffy and my eyelashes were stuck together by my tears.’
   • ‘I opened my eyes and saw that her eyes were still red and wet, but she looked absolutely beautiful.’
   • ‘She raised her head to look at him, her eyes were red, puffy, and filled with fear.’
   • ‘Her mother's wide brown eyes were red and puffy and an ugly black bruise was swelling on her cheek.’
   • ‘When Sara finally lifted her head, her eyes were red and tear-stained.’
   Synonyms

   bloodshot, red-rimmed, inflamed

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3. 1.3(of hair or fur) of a reddish-brown or orange-brown colour.
   ‘her long, red hair’
   ‘his hair was red’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Up close he could see she was quite pretty with flaming red hair and reddish brown eyes.’
   • ‘A tall punk with flaming red hair had his arm slung tightly around her waist in a possessive manner.’
   • ‘She spotted a woman with flaming red hair walking slightly in front of her.’
   • ‘Coral, her red hair tied back in a pony tail, came through the door with Nat by her side.’
   • ‘His flame red hair was unruly, but his attempts to check that unruliness were evident.’
   • ‘She reached down and tenderly pushed a few strands of dirty rusty red hair out of Tom's eyes.’
   • ‘She was a skinny girl with flame red hair and a million freckles.’
   • ‘There in front of her stood a large man with flaming red hair and large pale green eyes.’
   • ‘Unfortunately, the color of my face was only intensified by my flame red hair.’
   • ‘She looked to be in total bliss as her flaming red hair blew in the wind.’
   • ‘She had wild, flaming red hair that went down to her shoulders, and her eyes were almost a fiery purple.’
   • ‘She was a short, plump woman with flaming red hair that cascaded down her back.’
   • ‘Rusty whipped around, and his red hair curled around his head like a wet mop.’
   • ‘She has gorgeous long, red hair that I love to run my fingers through.’
   • ‘She was braiding my long, red hair just the way I like it and we were talking.’
   • ‘I had bright red hair as a child, but it has progressively darkened to its current brown.’
   • ‘I looked at his red hair and his muscular, hairy legs and decided I wasn't attracted to him.’
   • ‘She was born after a quick labor and has a coating of bright red hair on her little head.’
   • ‘Mark is described as white, six-feet one inch tall, of a slim build, with short wavy red hair.’
   • ‘She was last seen with bright red hair, but has been blonde in the past and could have dyed her hair a dark colour.’
   Synonyms

   reddish, flaming red, flame-coloured, auburn, Titian, chestnut, carroty, ginger, sandy, foxy

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4. 1.4dated, offensive (of a people) having reddish skin.
5. 1.5Of or denoting the suits hearts and diamonds in a pack of cards.
   ‘a red queen’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Each card is from a red suit but we do not know this: each of us sees only the suit of his own card.’
   • ‘By agreement, if the card turned up to start the discard pile happens to be a wild card or a red three, it may be put back into the stock pile and another card turned up.’
   • ‘If the card is red, the next player to the left turns over their card.’
   • ‘As the rules stand both red and even numbered cards are being eliminated.’
   • ‘Only three cards are needed, two from a black suit, and one from a red suit.’
   • ‘Bonuses for red threes, canastas and so on cannot be counted towards meeting the minimum.’
   • ‘If you do not have the necessary sambas or canastas to end the game, for every melded red three you receive 100 penalty points.’
6. 1.6(of wine) made from dark grapes and coloured by their skins.
   ‘a glass of red wine’
   More example sentences

   • ‘These three grape varieties produce red wines which go lighter with age.’
   • ‘As well as being the source of red Burgundy wines, it is also a backbone of Champagne blends.’
   • ‘The principal grape used in the red wines of this region is Syrah.’
   • ‘It is home to very luscious and exotic red wines, principally Cabernet Sauvignon.’
   • ‘To make a red wine, a vintner will let the juice of the grapes mix with the skins.’
   • ‘Where once Burgundy had the field to itself, other parts of the world are now making some gorgeous red wines from Pinot Noir.’
   • ‘Would I pour my water into my white wine glass, red wine into my port glass or the whole lot over the tablecloth?’
   • ‘Add the red wine, allow to bubble for a few minutes, stirring.’
   • ‘Thirty minutes in a normal refrigerator for your red wines is all that is usually required on warm days.’
   • ‘The red wines, which are always my favourite tipple, are outstanding.’
   • ‘I seldom drink spirits, but I like a glass of red wine, sometimes a beer.’
   • ‘How cool you serve red wines on hot days is a question of taste.’
   • ‘I enjoy red wine but as the only drinker in the house, I find that one bottle lasts too long.’
   • ‘The name also has been used generically in some countries to refer to a blended red wine.’
   • ‘The best wine vinegar may be made from either white or red wine, the latter having an agreeable mellow taste.’
   • ‘Yield of their red wine is down, but that's due to their replanting programme.’
   • ‘For a long time red wine has been touted for its healthy effects on the heart.’
   • ‘They had come armed with plenty of local red wine and soon it was flowing fast.’
   • ‘Use patience, a very sharp carving knife, and lots of red wine for your guests.’
   • ‘One night early on, while we sat drinking red wine on the balcony off our room, a man in the adjoining room came out on his balcony too.’
7. 1.7Denoting a red light or flag used as a signal to stop.
   More example sentences

   • ‘A red signal stops action, and green alerts the player that the coach needs his or her attention.’
   • ‘But drivers also fail to stop at red signals because they have misread a signal, or chosen to disregard it.’
   • ‘This system automatically stops the train if it passes through a red signal.’
   • ‘He grabbed red danger flags and special detonators, used to stop trains, and ran into the path of the train.’
   • ‘Cameras were installed but seem to do little except consistently fail to identify speeding motorists who disregard the red signal.’
   • ‘When the vehicles stopped at red traffic lights the ambulanceman got out of his car and approached the van, along with another driver.’
   • ‘Finally, the red traffic light means stop, even if your car is expensive or has the word ‘taxi’ on the roof.’
   • ‘In Beijing, some traffic lights offer a countdown clock for both green and red signals.’
   • ‘And in the centre of this ominous landscape is a street crossing with red traffic signals.’
   • ‘There are several examples of drivers passing red signals simply because in their experience they expect it to be green.’
   • ‘We sit watching the glow of the red signal for what seems an eternity.’
   • ‘The effect of reducing the number of trains running red signals is clear.’
   • ‘The train ahead is protected by a red signal, which will not change if the following train goes too fast.’
   • ‘You don't stop at a red traffic light, in case somebody hijacks your car.’
   • ‘At traffic lights the rule is very simple: when the light is red you have to stop and when it's green you go.’
   • ‘Buses maybe given a separate phase to travel through the intersection, while all other traffic is held on a red signal.’
   • ‘If you can't even get people to stop at a red traffic light, then what's the point?’
   • ‘The driver around whom the dispute is centred was demoted after passing four red signals.’
   • ‘The strike was to defend a driver who was demoted after passing red signals.’
   • ‘Even they will stop at red traffic lights and pedestrian crossings.’
8. 1.8Used to denote something forbidden, dangerous, or urgent.
   ‘the force went on red alert’
   More example sentences

   • ‘A fifth of Essex's roads have been given a red alert and are in urgent need of repair.’
   • ‘Britain's countryside was placed on red alert yesterday as both city and rural dwellers were told to keep away from farmland.’
   • ‘A senior Government vet says North Yorkshire should be on red alert to prevent an explosion of foot and mouth in the pig farming community.’
   • ‘The Met Office has put highways departments in the region on red alert - the highest warning in its traffic light system of alerts.’
   • ‘He revealed that an email had been circulated amongst GPs by the primary care trust, informing them that a red alert had been posted.’
   • ‘Killarney is this week on a public health red alert following confirmation of two new cases of meningitis in the town.’
   • ‘Farmers in North Yorkshire were on red alert today after the first case of foot and mouth was confirmed within the county.’
   • ‘Police in Ramsbottom put fitness fans on red alert today after a jogger in a neighbouring district was attacked.’
   • ‘A First Bus spokesman said services are still on red alert and will be cut if the trouble continues.’
   • ‘They are believed to be the work of terrorists and the usual agencies are put on red alert for an attack.’
   • ‘Morecambe Bay Hospitals have been put on red alert and operations have been cancelled for the second time this month.’
   • ‘Police have been put on red alert in other parts of India, including in Gujarat and in the capital New Delhi.’
   • ‘Hospital bosses said a continuation of the problems that triggered the first six-day red alert led to its renewal again on Tuesday.’
   • ‘I received a panic e-mail from my husband last week, marked red alert, after he made a phone call to our credit card company.’
   • ‘The hospital has been put on red alert several times in the past few weeks, as winter ills make their presence felt.’
   • ‘All the sudden, the red alert sounded and all the girls stopped playing cards in response.’
   • ‘They may fall and be injured as a result, and by pressing the red button, urgent assistance is on hand in a very short time.’
   • ‘Under red alert, police personnel would not be permitted to take leave or go out of the city.’
   • ‘She looked over at the wall to see that the red lights that usually flash when the red alert rings off were not on.’
   • ‘The bridge is bathed in red light as a red alert siren wails in the background.’
9. 1.9(of a ski run) of the second-highest level of difficulty, as indicated by red markers positioned along it.
10. 1.10Physics Denoting one of three colours of quark.

2

3archaic, literary Involving bloodshed or violence.

4

1mass noun Red colour or pigment.

1. 1.1Red clothes or material.
   ‘she could not wear red’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Their daughter, Molly, wore a white dress and all her bridesmaids wore red.’
   • ‘The voice belonged to a young woman dressed in bright red, a white scarf around her head, a bowl of water in her hands.’
   • ‘To note one example, when a mother comes to understand her son better near the end of the film, she is wearing red.’
   • ‘Perhaps it's because I was wearing bright red on a cold, grim rainy day.’
   • ‘We did primary colours, we did school-kid uniforms, we did St. Valentine's and all wore red.’
   • ‘Oprah wore red, but everyone else was in white-tie formal for her big bash over the weekend.’
   • ‘The bride will wear red to maintain the festive spirit and regulars will share a full turkey dinner followed by mince pies and Christmas pud.’
   • ‘His own transport is a Hummer and, at his £100,000 wedding staged in a Welsh castle, he wore red.’
   • ‘If we did go out, we were not to wear red or eat in public.’
   • ‘In front of the church police were questioning some young men wearing red.’
   • ‘Ah, that we could all wear red so well and with no thought to clashing with our surroundings.’
   • ‘Tomorrow somebody may say that I shouldn't wear khaki to work and should only wear red.’
   • ‘It is hard to get away from the fact that she has worn red on most episodes.’
   • ‘To make a really great photo, they need lots of people to come along, wearing as much red as possible.’
   • ‘I leaned down from my saddle and snatched a shield from a corpse wearing red.’
   • ‘You could always tell who was from where because we wore blue and they wore red.’
   • ‘The colour blue was chosen to distinguish the police from the British military, who then wore red and white.’
   • ‘The club always wore red and white but black has now replaced the white.’
   • ‘The groom wore red and the bride looked elegant in an old-fashioned riding habit.’
   • ‘Cardinals wear red, and other ranks are noted by their style of dress and rings.’

2A red thing.

1. 2.1A red wine.
   ‘good Italian reds at affordable prices’
   mass noun ‘a bottle of red’
   More example sentences

   • ‘Wine by the glass business is strong, too, he reports, and the bar offers eight white wines and seven reds.’
   • ‘The minute the mercury soars, red wines, especially big reds, start to turn volatile and taste soupy and mawkish.’
   • ‘All the great white wines are made from Chardonnay, all the great reds from Pinot Noir.’
   • ‘There is a limited wine list, from which I only tried the house wines, both the red and the white were excellent and not expensive.’
   • ‘Delicate reds, such as wines from France's Beaujolais and Chinon appellations, can often fulfil the role of a white wine, and vice versa.’
   • ‘Steer clear of excessively tannic reds, such as Cabernet Sauvignons.’
   • ‘And what Sauvignon Blanc does for white wines, Cabernet Sauvignon can do for reds.’
   • ‘If I ventured from the reds, Chardonnays replaced the lighter, less fulfilling whites.’
   • ‘We tasted a wide range of wines, from a sparkler to whites to reds to a very nice little semisparkler for dessert.’
   • ‘It favours a cool, climate but ripens earlier than other reds such as Cabernet.’
   • ‘It goes without saying that Bordeaux is better known for reds but this wine certainly doesn't let the side down.’
   • ‘As U.S. wine sales grow, reds have overtaken whites.’
   • ‘Acidity is more of a taste factor in white wines than in reds.’
   • ‘Some people regard white wines as something to rinse the palate with before they move on to some reds, but these two wines are worth a few minutes' pause.’
   • ‘Tartaric acid is what gives balance to sugars in white wines and tannins in reds.’
   • ‘You don't have to stick with sweet wines, some dry reds can make suitable chocolate partners as well.’
   • ‘And the thick bottle and handsome label make it an excellent gift wine for a lover of big reds.’
   • ‘Screwcaps are ok for young, zippy whites and reds, but are they right for fine wines?’
   • ‘Beaujolais is the perfect wine for people who like the soft fruity reds.’
   • ‘The lighter, almost earthy reds can be good here, too, if the wine producer has aimed for concentration.’
2. 2.2A red ball in snooker or billiards.
   More example sentences

   • ‘Hunter led by four points when he found himself snookered on the last red.’
   • ‘Three reds remain but Hendry surprisingly concedes to leave his opponent just one frame from victory.’
   • ‘Wood gained four points from a snooker on the last red which left him ideally positioned for a clearance.’
   • ‘In this instance, that meant the pink had to be returned to the centre of a group of reds with just enough room to fit the ball in the middle.’
   • ‘The world number one played a simple safety shot to leave the white ball on the bottom cushion and Doherty played the ball deadweight into the pack of reds.’
   • ‘Another simple red is missed and O'Sullivan goes 48 points up with the remaining reds all on the cushion.’
   • ‘Even after clambering on the table, he could not get a good enough shot at the three reds clustered near the cushion.’
   • ‘Another highly tactical frame, and the longest in the match so far, as Williams and Doherty reach just 36 points between them with 11 reds potted.’
   • ‘However, several missed reds proved vital in the next two frames and O'Sullivan recorded his first win of this year's £205,000 event.’
   • ‘Williams scored first, but it was Hunter who made the frame and championship winning contribution as he cleared a sizeable cluster of reds.’
   • ‘The 2002 British Open champion sank 14 reds before missing the penultimate black in the final frame of the day.’
   • ‘Henry takes full advantage with the reds well split, and boosts his confidence with a stylish break of 89 to win the opening frame.’
   • ‘He was once known to have conceded a frame with 13 reds on the table.’
   • ‘The reds are open though, so whoever pots first will be in pole position.’
   • ‘Doherty opened the scoring with a break of 44 but, bridging awkwardly, missed a red to a middle pocket.’
   • ‘Stevens looks to be heading to level the match, but his 45 break falters when he misses a red.’
   • ‘He potted 13 reds and 12 blacks before losing position on the colour.’
   • ‘Williams cleared up to win the first after King had missed a simple red into the bottom corner.’
   • ‘Hamilton looked in control of the next frame until a bad contact on the cue ball resulted in him missing a simple red.’
   • ‘He led 53-8 with two reds left in the 16th frame but snookered himself on the second last red.’
3. 2.3A red light.

3

4the redThe situation of owing money to a bank or making a loss in a business operation.