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to ruddle

to ruddle

9.9
To color something red with red powder or paint
  • verb
  • /ˈrʌdəl/
  • Archaic
translation icon : pintar de ocre
  • They ruddled the clay to create vibrant pottery.

Examples

  • The shepherd would ruddle his sheep to identify them in the flock.

  • Centuries ago, artists would ruddle cave walls with vivid imagery.

  • Her cheeks seemed to ruddle with excitement on the brisk winter morning.

  • After she ruddled the sheep, they looked striking.

  • The artist decided to ruddle the canvas with a rich red hue to evoke deep emotion.

  • To prepare for the ceremony, the villagers would ruddle the ceremonial masks with red ochre.

  • Before the race, the farmer would ruddle the sheep with a bright color for easy identification.

Synonyms

to redden
vsto ruddle
11 3.7

To change to red, for example from heat or embarrassment

is a specific coloring done with an earthy red pigment
to rubify
vsto ruddle
9.9

To make something a deep red like a ruby

is the same change but done using an earthy red pigment
to incarnadine
vsto ruddle
  • Archaic
9.9

To make something look pink or light red

uses an earthy red pigment rather than a fleshlike pink tint

Antonyms

50 3.2

To make something lighter in color, often using chemicals or sunlight

8 2.8

Make or become more white in color

How Red

to redden
11 3.7
to ruddle
  • Archaic
9.9
to tint
24 3.6

Surface Forms

ruddle infinitive
ruddled past
ruddled past participle
ruddling present participle
ruddles third person singular

Etymology

Ruddle as a verb comes from the same old root rud- meaning 'red', like ruddy, so to ruddle something is to make it red or colour it with red ochre.