dye

UK: /ˈdaɪ/ US: /daɪ/ ,(dī)

Inflections of 'dye' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

dyes

v 3rd person singular

dyeing

v pres p

dyed

v past

dyed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dye /daɪ/   n., v., dyed, dye•ing. 
n. 

1. Textiles a coloring material or matter:
   [uncountable] Try some red dye on that sweater.
   [countable] They had a few dyes to use on that sweater.

v. [~ + object]

2. Textiles to color (cloth, etc.) with or as if with a dye:
   to dye a dress green.

dy•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dye  (dī), n., v., dyed, dye•ing. 
n. 

1. Textiles a coloring material or matter.
2. Textiles a liquid containing coloring matter, for imparting a particular hue to cloth, paper, etc.
3. color or hue, esp. as produced by dyeing.
4. Idioms of the deepest or blackest dye, of the most extreme or the worst sort:
   a prevaricator of the blackest dye.

v.t. 

5. Textiles to color or stain;
   treat with a dye;
   color (cloth, hair, etc.) with a substance containing coloring matter:
   to dye a dress green.
6. Textiles to impart (color) by means of a dye:
   The coloring matter dyed green.

v.i. 

7. Textiles to impart color, as a dye:
   This brand dyes well.
8. Textiles to become colored or absorb color when treated with a dye:
   This cloth dyes easily.

• Middle English dien, Old English dēagian, derivative of dēag a dye bef. 1000

dy′a•ble, dye′a•ble, adj. 
dy′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

dye / daɪ/ noun

1. a staining or colouring substance, such as a natural or synthetic pigment
2. a liquid that contains a colouring material and can be used to stain fabrics, skins, etc
3. the colour or shade produced by dyeing

verb (dyes, dyeing, dyed)

1. (transitive) to impart a colour or stain to (something, such as fabric or hair) by or as if by the application of a dye

Etymology: Old English dēagian, from dēag a dye; related to Old High German tugōn to change, Lettish dūkans dark

ˈdyable, ˈdyeable adjective