Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Ochre for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Ochre" — noun, pronounced /ˈəʊkə/, with the stress on "o".
Narrator: Ochre is an earthy yellow-brown colour, and the natural clay pigment that produces it.
Narrator: In plain English, mustardy earth colour.
Narrator: It comes from Greek ōkhros, pale yellow.
Narrator: A common collocation is "yellow ochre", which describes the classic artists' pigment.
Narrator: It differs from "mustard", because ochre is earthier and browner than mustard.
Narrator: In a second sense, red ochre was used in prehistoric cave paintings.
Narrator: Art, archaeology, interiors and fashion rely on the word.
Narrator: So remember: ochre is earthy yellow-brown.
Speaker A: What colour were the cave paintings?
Speaker B: OCHRE! From Greek ōkhros, pale yellow.
Speaker A: Made from clay?
Speaker B: From natural earth pigments.
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "Mix yellow ochre with white", painting. "The cushions are ochre", interiors. "Ancient handprints in red ochre", archaeology.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: British spelling is ochre; American spelling is ocher.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: Mustard is its cousin, sienna its twin, and amber an alternative — yet ochre keeps its earthy charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "ochre" in AI prompts — useful for warm palettes and history apps.
Speaker A: How for palettes?
Speaker B: Warm tones.
Prompt: Build an autumn website palette around ochre, rust and cream.
Speaker A: And history?
Speaker B: Museums.
Prompt: Write a museum label explaining how prehistoric artists used red ochre.
Speaker A: Could it help spelling?
Speaker B: Yes, for locales.
Prompt: Convert ocher to ochre in this British art guide.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: Interiors.
Prompt: Suggest furniture colours that pair with an ochre feature wall.
Ochre — meaning in Arabic & definition More O courses GL Dictionary