cochineal
A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and…A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).
» Carmine is a deep red food coloring obtained from an insect called the cochineal.
Meaning
3 senses(countable)A scale insect of the species Dactylopius coccus, native to the tropical and subtropical Americas, which lives on prickly pear cacti (genus Opuntia).
Cochenille, Cochenillelaus, Cochenilleschildlaus
кошени́льkošenílʹ
кошені́льkošenílʹ, черве́цьčervécʹ
(uncountable)A vivid red dye made from the dried bodies of cochineal insects.
кошени́льkošenílʹ
кошені́льkošenílʹ
a red dyestuff consisting of dried bodies of female cochineal insects
(uncountable)The vivid red colour of this dye.
Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye
Examples
2 sentencesCarmine is a deep red food coloring obtained from an insect called the cochineal.
Cochineal is a red color that comes from dried beetles.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
The noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from ItaliaThe noun is borrowed from Middle French cochenille (modern French cochenille), from Italian cocciniglia or Spanish cochinilla; further etymology uncertain, possibly from Latin coccineus, coccinus (“scarlet-dyed; scarlet in colour”) (whence Italian coccineo (“scarlet in colour”)) + Italian -iglia (suffix forming collective nouns), Spanish -illa (“diminutive suffix”). Coccinus is derived from Ancient Greek κόκκῐνος (kókkĭnos, “scarlet; (figurative) blushing”, adjective), from κόκκος (kókkos, “kermes oak (Quercus coccifera); insect of the genus Kermes living on the oak; scarlet dye made from crushed kermes insects”) (possibly from Pre-Greek) + -ῐνος (-ĭnos, suffix forming adjectives).
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Forms
plural: cochinealsSynonyms
3 synonyms- Mexican red scale insect that feeds on cacti; the source of a red dye:cochineal insectDactylopius coccus
Word family
2 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable