Standard Lemma guide

chromakey

noun · verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The use of a particular color, usually either green or blue) as a key in a studio in order to allow one image to be seamlessly partially superimposed upon another.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: broadcasting, film, media, television

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To modify an image in this way.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From chroma + key.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: croma — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Chinese Mandarin: 色鍵技術 /色键技术 — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Finnish: väriavainnus — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Finnish: avainnus — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • French: incrustation — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Galician: croma — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • German: Chroma Keying — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Italian: chroma key — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Italian: chiave cromatica — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Japanese: クロマキー (kuromakī) — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Korean: 크로마키 (keuromaki) — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Polish: kluczowanie kolorem — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Portuguese: cromaqui — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Portuguese: chroma key — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Portuguese: croma — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one
  • Spanish: croma — use of a color as key in a studio to allow an image to be partially replaced by other one