Phrase guide

false colour

noun · 1 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

Having colours that are different from those of reality, especially such that the colours used correspond to some physical or spectral significance (e.g. representing temperature, wavelength, species of microbe, or other meaning).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: attributive, especially

Examples

  • A false-colour image from a microscope helps highlight the variety of microbial species present in a single sample of soil.
  • The temperature gradient is shown here in false colour for convenience.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.