color wheel
1
3.2
- noun
- /ˈkʌlər wiːl/
- US
:
rueda de colores
- To create a stunning design, refer to the color wheel for guidance on color relationships.
- color wheel and complementary
- Use a color wheel
So what I did was take a colour wheel, open it out.
- So what I did was take a colour wheel, open it out.
- If you add colors that are close to that one on the color wheel, like pink or Bordeaux, which is a dark red, you're still fine.
- The salon I go to, they got like a new brand in and so they had their new little color, what do you call it, color wheel thing.
Examples
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Take a look at a color wheel, choose the colors that can be complete opposites of each other, and then set the plantings of the colors together.
Blog text (8) -
The color wheel is an important tool.
Blog text (26) -
A standard color wheel places red and gold on either side of blue's direct opposite, orange.
Academic text (1998) -
Use a color wheel to determine the choices for secondary and tertiary colors.
Academic text (2010) -
So, to really make them pop, choose a background that's either the same color or the complementary color on the color wheel.
Blog text (7) -
And there's always the possibility of using split complementaries, which means pulling in colors that are on either side of a complementary color on the color wheel, like red-violet (I love this one!) or blue-violet.
Blog text (1) -
Artists often use a color wheel to understand which colors complement each other.
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You can find complementary colors by looking at their positions on the color wheel.
Synonyms
1
2.4
A chart showing many colors to help you choose one
1
3.9
A circle that shows how colors are related, for example primary and opposite colors
How Formal
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from 'color' (hues) + 'wheel' (a round object) — i.e. a circular arrangement or chart of colors. This uses a common metaphoric extension of 'wheel' to mean a circular diagram (found in many languages), so a B1 learner who knows both words will likely understand the term.
Etymology
The noun color wheel comes from a simple picture artists and teachers made: they put different colors around a circle like a wheel, so some colors sit opposite each other. That's why today color wheel means 'a circular chart showing how colors relate' and helps you choose colors that go well together.