pink
pink
Pronunciation
/pɪŋk/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
pink:
/p/ - voiceless bilabial plosive
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
/k/ - voiceless velar plosive
Word Form Variations
As an Adjective:
Positive: pink (e.g., a pink shirt)
Comparative: pinker (e.g., a pinker shade)
Superlative: pinkest (e.g., the pinkest flower)
As a Noun:
Singular: pink (referring to the color itself, or a specific pink flower like a dianthus)
Example: "She loves pink."
Example: "He picked a lovely pink from the garden."
Plural: pinks (referring to multiple instances of the color or multiple pink flowers)
Example: "The painting used various pinks."
Example: "The border was full of beautiful pinks."
Verb Form:
While less common and often more informal, "pink" can also be used as a verb, meaning to pierce or prick, or to decorate with perforations.
Base Form: pink (e.g., to pink the fabric)
Third Person Singular Present: pinks (e.g., he pinks the edges)
Present Participle: pinking (e.g., she is pinking the cloth)
Past Tense/Past Participle: pinked (e.g., they pinked the seam)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. The Color Pink:
Definition: A pale reddish color, often associated with femininity, tenderness, or youth. It is typically a desaturated red, or a mixture of red and white.
Synonyms: rose, blush, fuchsia (a specific shade), magenta (a specific shade), salmon (a specific shade)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for a color; depends on context, but could be contrasted with its complementary color) green (complementary to red, which is a component of pink), drab (lacking color)
2. A Type of Flower:
Definition: Any of several flowering plants of the genus Dianthus, known for their often fragrant, fringed petals, and a range of colors that frequently includes shades of pink.
Synonyms: carnation (a type of dianthus), sweet William (a type of dianthus), gillyflower (historical term, sometimes used for dianthus)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym, as it refers to a specific type of flower)
3. The Pinnacle or Prime: (Less common in modern use, but historically present)
Definition: The highest or most excellent degree, state, or condition of something; the very best.
Synonyms: peak, prime, zenith, acme, height, crest
Antonyms: nadir, lowest point, rock bottom, pits
Adjective
1. Having the Color Pink:
Definition: Of the color pink; characterized by a pale reddish hue.
Synonyms: rosy, blush-colored, roseate, salmon-colored, fuchsia-colored, magenta-colored
Antonyms: (No direct antonym for a specific color adjective; depends on context) colorless, achromatic, black (if referring to absence of lightness), dull, drab
2. In Good Health or Condition: (Often used informally in phrases like "in the pink")
Definition: In excellent physical condition; healthy, robust, and full of vitality.
Synonyms: healthy, robust, well, thriving, hale, hearty, flourishing
Antonyms: ill, sick, unwell, frail, weak, ailing, debilitated
3. Associated with Homosexuality: (Often used informally, sometimes pejoratively)
Definition: Pertaining to or suggestive of homosexuality, particularly male homosexuality.
Synonyms: gay (less direct synonym for "pink" in this context but related), effeminate (can be a related connotation)
Antonyms: straight, heterosexual
Verb
1. To Pierce or Prick Lightly:
Definition: To make a small hole or cut in something with a sharp point; to prick or perforate.
Synonyms: prick, pierce, perforate, puncture, stab (less light), poke
Antonyms: seal, mend, close, patch
2. To Cut with a Scalloped or Toothed Edge:
Definition: To cut the edge of fabric or other material with a zigzag or serrated pattern, often using pinking shears, to prevent fraying or for decorative purposes.
Synonyms: scallop, serrate, notch, zig-zag, trim (in this specific manner)
Antonyms: hem, straight-cut, finish smoothly
3. To Become Pink:
Definition: To turn or become pink, often subtly.
Synonyms: blush, redden, flush, color, rose (as a verb)
Antonyms: pale, whiten, fade
Examples of Use
Books:
"Every morning the world was a clean slate, and the day was a new one, and the sky was a different pink." (Delia Owens, Where the Crawdads Sing)
"She was dressed in a pale pink summer dress, with a wide-brimmed straw hat." (Jojo Moyes, The Giver of Stars)
"...to find the pink of perfection in their work, they toiled tirelessly." (A historical text referring to the "pinnacle" of something)
Newspapers:
"The sunrise painted the Nairobi skyline in hues of orange and pink this morning." (Local newspaper report)
"Campaigners wore pink ribbons to raise awareness for breast cancer research." (The Guardian)
"After a challenging year, the company's profits are finally back in the pink." (The Wall Street Journal)
Online Publications:
"Why millennial pink continues to dominate interior design trends." (Architectural Digest Online)
"Scientists discover new species of deep-sea fish, notable for its vibrant pink coloration." (National Geographic Online)
"Five quick tips for getting your garden's roses to pink beautifully in the spring." (Gardening Blog)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "On Wednesdays, we wear pink." (Regina George in Mean Girls)
Music: "I wore a pink carnation for you..." (Lyrics from a popular song, artist's name withheld for broad applicability)
Television: "The designer unveiled a stunning collection featuring bold pink gowns." (Fashion reality show, current season)
Video Games: "Players can customize their avatar's armor in various colors, including a luminous pink." (Game review on IGN)
Social Media: (Image of a sunset with the caption) "Such a breathtaking pink sky tonight! #sunsetlover" (Instagram post)
General Public Discourse:
"I'm feeling much better today, right back in the pink after that flu." (Casual conversation between friends)
"Could you please pink the edges of this fabric for me? I want to prevent it from fraying." (Instruction in a sewing class)
"He tried to pink the balloon with a pin, but it was too thick." (Description of a child's attempt)
10 Quotes Using Pink
"On Wednesdays, we wear pink." (Regina George, Mean Girls, April 2004)
"I believe in pink." (Audrey Hepburn, Life Magazine, 1954)
"I'm a believer in pink. I think pink is the new black." (Christian Siriano, The New York Times, February 2011)
"You want to wear pink? Go ahead. No one's stopping you. But if you call me a sissy..." (Don Imus, Imus in the Morning, March 2007)
"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together. My life is pink." (Marilyn Monroe, often attributed)
"Pink isn't just a color, it's an attitude!" (Miley Cyrus, often attributed)
"I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day." (Vincent van Gogh, The Letters of Vincent van Gogh, often paired with his works featuring pink skies)
"Black is the most slimming of all colors. It is the most fashionable. Women look best in black. I still think that black is the best, but pink makes a statement." (Karl Lagerfeld, Harper's Bazaar, February 2007)
"Pink is the only true rock and roll color." (Paul Simonon, The Clash: The Only Band That Matters, 1999)
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out? Especially if you can stand out in pink." (Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat, 1957, adapted)
Etymology
The word "pink" has a pretty interesting journey through language!
It originally comes from a Dutch word, "pinck oogen," which literally meant "small eyes." This referred to the small, narrowed eyes of someone who was half-closed or winking. Over time, the English took this word and adapted it.
The first known use of "pink" in English, around the 16th century (specifically, the early 1500s), wasn't actually about the color at all! It was used to describe a type of flower, specifically a Dianthus flower (like a carnation or sweet William). These flowers often have petals with a jagged or "pinked" edge, almost as if they've been cut with tiny scissors.
From this connection to the flower, the meaning evolved:
From the flower to the color: Because many of these "pink" flowers were, well, pink in color, the word started to be used to describe that specific pale red hue. This shift happened in the late 16th century.
From the "pinked" edge to the verb: The idea of the flower's jagged edge also led to the verb "to pink," meaning to cut something with a notched or scalloped edge (like with pinking shears). This usage also appeared around the same time.
So, in a nutshell: it started with tiny eyes in Dutch, then jumped to a specific flower with a distinctive edge, and from that flower, it eventually became the name of the color we all know today!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Pink
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "pink":
In the pink: To be in excellent health or condition.
Tickled pink: To be very pleased or delighted.
Pink slip: A notice of termination of employment; a layoff notice.
Pink elephant: A hallucination, often associated with alcohol intoxication.
Pink collar worker: A worker in a job traditionally held by women, often associated with lower pay or status.
To see things through rose-colored glasses / To see things through pink-colored glasses: To view things with an overly optimistic or idealized perspective, often ignoring negative aspects.
To be pink with embarrassment: To blush deeply due to shame or shyness.
Pink tax: The tendency for products marketed to women to be more expensive than similar products marketed to men.
To pink up: To become or turn pink (e.g., "The sky began to pink up at dawn.")
A touch of pink: A small amount or hint of pink color.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of pink from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
