carmine.

1. A rich red pigment or coloring substance, traditionally obtained from cochineal insects.

2. A rich deep red, often with a slightly purplish cast.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• carmine pigment
• cochineal carmine

On the page

The analysis found carmine pigment in the faded decorative border.

She checked the label because the carmine colorant came from an animal source.

Usage notes

Primary category: sensory / description. Forms: Usually uncountable as a pigment or color; plural carmines for distinct shades or preparations. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.