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pink 1  (pĭngk)
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Tweet n. 1. Any of a group of colors reddish in hue, of medium to high lightness, and of low to moderate saturation. 2. a. Any of various plants of the genus Dianthus, such as sweet William, often cultivated for their showy, fragrant, usually pink, red, or white flowers. Also called dianthus. b. Any of several other plants in the pink family, such as the wild pink. c. A flower of any of these plants. 3. The highest or best degree: in the pink of health. 4. pinks a. Light-colored trousers formerly worn as part of the winter semidress uniform by US Army officers. b. The scarlet coat worn by fox hunters. 5. Slang A pinko. adj. pink·er, pink·est 1. Of the color pink. 2. Slang Having moderately leftist political opinions. [Early Modern English, flower of the genus Dianthus, perhaps from pink, to peer, blink, wink (probably from Dutch pinken, of unknown origin), or from PINK2 (in reference to the jagged edge of the flower's petals ).] pinkness n. |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
tr.v. pinked, pink·ing, pinks 1. To stab lightly with a pointed weapon; prick. 2. To decorate with a perforated pattern. 3. To cut with pinking shears. [Middle English pingen, pinken, to push, prick, from Old English pyngan, from Latin pungere; see peuk- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. pl. pinks also pink·ies Nautical A small sailing vessel with a sharply narrowed stern and an overhanging transom. [Middle English, from Middle Dutch pinke.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
