purple

A colour made by mixing red and blue.

• Purple is my favourite colour.
• She painted the door a deep purple.
• Does this shade of purple match the curtains?

Common phrases: dark purple, light purple, shade of purple

Cloth or clothing of a red-blue colour, especially robes worn to show royal rank.

• The emperor wore the purple.
• Rich purple covered the royal throne.
• The queen appeared in purple edged with gold.

Common phrases: imperial purple, wear the purple, clothed in purple

The power or position of an emperor.

• He hoped to inherit the purple.
• The general assumed the purple after the emperor's death.
• She was born in the purple but never ruled.

How to use it: born in the purple (Born in the purple, the prince expected to rule.)

Similar words: imperial power, emperorship

Common phrases: in the purple, assume the purple, inherit the purple

Having a colour made by mixing red and blue.

• She wore a purple dress.
• The sky turned purple at sunset.
• Would you like the light purple curtains?

Similar words: violet

Common phrases: purple flowers, dark purple, purple paint

Having strong support for both major American political parties.

• They live in a purple state.
• Both candidates campaigned heavily in the purple district.
• The county became purple after the last election.

Common phrases: purple state, purple district

Using too many fancy words and descriptions.

• The novel is full of purple prose.
• Her purple descriptions made the simple scene sound grand.
• The editor removed several purple passages.

Similar words: flowery, overwritten, overwrought

Opposites: plain

Common phrases: purple prose, purple passage