orange
orange
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "orange" is /ˈɒrɪndʒ/.
Or-: /ɒr/ (the "o" as in "cot," followed by the "r" sound)
-ange: /ɪndʒ/ (the "i" as in "kit," followed by the "n" sound, then the "j" sound as in "judge")
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: orange
Plural Noun: oranges
Adjective: orange (describing a color or something having the characteristics of an orange)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A round, edible citrus fruit with a tough, bright reddish-yellow rind and segmented, juicy pulp, typically sweet or tart. Oranges are widely cultivated in warm climates and are a rich source of Vitamin C.
Synonyms: citrus, fruit, tangerine (sometimes used loosely)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a specific fruit, but one could consider categories like "vegetable" as an opposite food type.)
A bright, reddish-yellow color, intermediate between red and yellow in the color spectrum, often associated with the fruit of the same name.
Synonyms: amber, rust, tangerine, apricot
Antonyms: blue, green, purple (other primary/secondary colors)
Adjective
Having the color orange; of the color orange.
Synonyms: carroty, pumpkin-colored, fiery (referring to color)
Antonyms: blue, green, purple (other primary/secondary colors)
Made from or flavored with oranges.
Synonyms: citrusy, orange-flavored
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this describes a characteristic derived from the fruit.)
Examples of Use
Books:
"He plucked a ripe orange from the bowl, its skin cool and firm in his hand." (from The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende)
"The sky burned a brilliant orange as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the clouds in fiery hues." (from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)
Newspapers:
"Local farmers report a bumper crop of Valencia oranges this season, promising an abundance for juice production." ( The Daily Nation)
"The city council approved plans for new pedestrian crossings, marked with bright orange safety cones during construction." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"This autumn's fashion trends feature vibrant orange accents, from handbags to statement coats." (Vogue.com)
"Scientists are studying the environmental impact of citrus greening disease on Florida's orange groves." (National Geographic online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie A Clockwork Orange, the title itself is a famous and enigmatic phrase, open to various interpretations.
Television: "The children's show often features a character, 'Mr. Orange,' who teaches them about colors and healthy eating." (Example from a children's educational program, like Peppa Pig or Sesame Street)
Music: "She wore an orange blossom in her hair," a lyric that might appear in a folk song, symbolizing purity or joy. (Example from a song by a folk artist like Joni Mitchell or Taylor Swift)
Video Games: Many video games use orange markers to indicate objectives or important items for the player to collect. (Common in adventure or puzzle games)
General Public Discourse:
"I need to pick up some oranges from the grocery store for breakfast." (Everyday conversation)
"The sunset was absolutely stunning last night, all reds and oranges." (Casual observation)
"Can you hand me that orange crayon?" (Instruction in a classroom or art setting)
"The traffic light just turned orange, hurry up!" (Informal instruction while driving)
10 Quotes Using Orange
"Orange is the happiest color." (Frank Sinatra)
"There is no blue without yellow and without orange." (Vincent Van Gogh)
"The earth is blue like an orange." (Paul Eluard)
"When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out, because that's what's inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside." (Wayne Dyer)
"If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable - each segment distinct." (Letty Cottin Pogrebin)
"Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine." (Anita Bryant)
"Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?" (Steven Wright)
"My father always said that if you want oranges, you have to go to where the oranges grow." (Terrence Howard)
"The sky takes on shades of orange during sunrise and sunset, the colour that gives you hope that the sun will set only to rise again." (Ram Charan)
"Plants are more courageous than almost all human beings: an orange tree would rather die than produce lemons, whereas instead of dying the average person would rather be someone they are not." (Mokokoma Mokhonoana1)
Etymology
The word "orange" has a fascinating journey through different languages!
It originally comes from an ancient Sanskrit word, "nāraṅga," which meant "orange tree." This suggests that the word was first used to describe the fruit itself, specifically the tree it grew on, in the region of what is now India. Some linguists even trace it back to an older Dravidian root, "naru," meaning "fragrant," hinting at the fruit's appealing scent.
From Sanskrit, the word traveled into Persian as "nārang" and then into Arabic as "nāranj." As oranges (the fruit) were introduced to Europe by traders, the word spread through various European languages. For example, it became "naranja" in Spanish and "narancia" in Italian.
Here's where it gets interesting: when the word arrived in Old French, it was something like "orenge" or "narange." Over time, the initial "n" sound in some of these European versions got dropped. This happened because people mistakenly heard the "n" as part of a preceding article, like "an" in English (e.g., "une narange" might have sounded like "une orange"). This linguistic shift is called "juncture loss."
The word "orange" entered the English language in the late 14th century, and its first known meaning was to refer to the fruit. It wasn't until around 1500s (some sources say 1512, others 1540) that the word "orange" started being used to describe the color. Before that, English speakers would describe the color as "yellow-red" or "red-yellow." So, the fruit came first, and the color was named after it!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Orange
Orange County: A well-known region in Southern California.
Agent Orange: A powerful herbicide used during the Vietnam War, infamous for its long-term health effects.
Orange roughy: A type of deep-sea fish.
The Big Orange: A nickname for the University of Tennessee, particularly its sports teams.
Orange pekoe: A specific grade of black tea.
Orange alert: A middle level of warning in a security or threat system (e.g., in a national terror alert system).
Orange blossom special: A famous train route and a well-known fiddle tune.
Orange is the new black: A phrase implying that something formerly considered undesirable or unfashionable has become popular or desirable, popularized by the TV show of the same name.
To squeeze the orange (until it's dry): An idiom meaning to extract every last bit of usefulness or benefit from something or someone, often to their detriment.
As American as apple pie and orange juice: A phrase emphasizing something's quintessential American quality.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of orange from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
