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undercolor

undercolor

7.3
The natural color under fur or feathers that lies beneath the outer surface
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : color subyacente
  • Birdwatchers often identify species by the undercolor of their wings during flight.

Examples

  • Many birds have an undercolor that is lighter than their outer feathers.

  • The plant's leaves had a silvery undercolor that caught the morning light.

  • The rabbit's soft undercolor was visible when its fur was brushed backward.

  • The rabbit's undercolor is a soft gray.

  • The rabbit's soft undercolor was visible when its fur was brushed backward.

  • The plant's leaves had a silvery undercolor that caught the morning light.

  • Many birds have an undercolor that is lighter than their outer feathers.

Synonyms

pigmentation
vsundercolor
  • Specialized
8 5.2

Natural color of skin, hair, or leaves caused by pigments

is the natural color lying beneath an organism's outer surface
undertone
vsundercolor
5 6.0

A faint color beneath a main color that changes how it looks

is the actual natural color under an outer layer rather than a subtle hint

How Visible

undertone
5 6.0
undercolor
  • Specialized
7.3
undercoat
1 6.1

Surface Forms

undercolor singular
undercolors plural

Morphology

undercolor = color (transparent) = under + color

The compound denotes a literal underlying natural coloration (beneath the surface), transparently derived from 'under' + 'color'.

Etymology

Undercolor comes from the parts under 'below' and color 'color'. It also means the hidden color under fur or leaves, like an animal's undercoat, and this hidden layer can change how the surface looks when moved or seen from the side.