umber — English Dictionary

Noun

1. A brown clay, somewhat darker than ochre, which contains iron and manganese oxides.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

   Examples

   They instructed the upholsterer to do the sofa in cinnamon and the ottoman in umber.

   I'll put myself in poor and mean attire, And with a kind of umber smirch my face; The like do you; so shall we pass along, And never stir assailants.

2. A grayling.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

3. A dusky brown African wading bird (Scopus umbretta) allied to the shoebill and herons; a hamerkop.

   Usage

   • Countable
   • Uncountable

Adjective

1. Of a reddish brown colour, like that of the pigment.

   Usage

   • not-comparable

   Examples

   Their harps are of the umber shade / That hides the blush of waking day.

Verb

1. To give a reddish-brown colour to.

   Usage

   • Transitive

   Examples

   Armies o'er armies heap'd, the locusts came, Like clouds in autumn umbering all the sky […]

Adjective

1. of the color of any of various natural brown earth pigments

Noun

1. an earth pigment

   Broader terms

   earth color

2. a medium brown to dark-brown color

   Synonyms

   chocolatecoffeedeep brownburnt umber

   Broader terms

   brownbrownness