yel·low (yĕl'ō)
n.

1. 1. The hue of that portion of the visible spectrum lying between orange and green, evoked in the human observer by radiant energy with wavelengths of approximately 570 to 590 nanometers; any of a group of colors of a hue resembling that of ripe lemons and varying in lightness and saturation; one of the subtractive primaries; one of the psychological primary hues.
   2. A pigment or dye having this hue.
   3. Something that has this hue.
2. Chiefly Southern U.S. The yolk of an egg.
3. Western U.S. Gold. Used formerly by prospectors.
4. yellows Any of various plant diseases usually caused by fungi of the genus Fusarium or viruses of the genus Chlorogenus and characterized by yellow or yellowish discoloration.

adj., -er, -est.

1. Of the color yellow.
2. 1. Having a yellow-brown skin color.
   2. Offensive. Of or being a person of Asian origin.
3. Slang. Cowardly.

tr. & intr.v., -lowed, -low·ing, -lows.
To make or become yellow: documents that had been yellowed by age; clouds that yellow in the evening light.

[Middle English yelow, from Old English geolu.]

yellowness yel'low·ness n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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