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Glite Dictionary
to mix colors

to mix colors

1 2.8
Combine paints to make new colors
  • phrasal verb
  • US
translation icon : mezclar colores
  • The painter knows how to mix colours and how to depict the appearances of things.
  • mix colors on a palette
  • learn to mix colors
  • way to mix colors

The painter knows how to mix colours and how to depict the appearances of things.

Examples

  • We just finished making this cake; we had so much fun talking about mixing colors and watching them combine.

    Blog text (22)

  • The artist decided to mix colors to achieve the vibrant hues needed for her landscape.

  • So you have to kind of mix colors to go with each client.

  • So glad I found this because I am not much of a decorator, but I sure can mix colors into a cake mix.

    Blog text (22)

  • By retouching my color prints, I became an expert at how to mix colors.

    Academic text (2005)

  • "We have our own machine to mix colors and can also get colors premixed from our supplier," he notes.

    Academic text (2000)

  • On the note of mixing colors, always, always have a scrap piece of paper whenever you're painting.

  • Got all the ingredients yesterday, spent all night thinking about mixing colors and layering and icing, and it was the first thing I thought about when I woke up.

    Blog text (22)

  • To create the perfect shade for your painting, you need to mix colors carefully on the palette.

  • In order to get the desired tone, it is essential to mix colors properly before applying them.

Synonyms

to mingle
vsto mix colors
34 3.3

Mix together so things join and are hard to tell apart

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades
to meld
vsto mix colors
18 5.3

To mix things so they become one

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades
to intermingle
vsto mix colors
6 5.2

Mix together so the parts are hard to tell apart

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades
to commingle
vsto mix colors
5 7.4

To mix different things into one

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades
to blend in
vsto mix colors
3 3.3

Mix one ingredient into others until the mixture is smooth

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades
to admix
vsto mix colors
1 8.8

To mix one substance with another so they become combined

is specifically about combining paints or pigments to make desired shades

How Mixed

to merge
192 3.2
to blend
255 2.3
to mix colors
  • US
1 2.8
to combine
638 2.7

Surface Forms

mix colors infinitive
mixed colors past
mixed colors past participle
mixing colors present participle
mixes colors third person singular

Morphology

mix + color

The meaning 'to combine different paints or pigments' is directly and transparently derivable from combining 'mix' (to join substances) with 'colors' (visual hues); the phrase is a literal verb + noun action. This is a commonplace, cross-linguistically common activity, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily understand it.

Etymology

Mix colors comes from artists who put different colors on a palette and mix them to make new shades. That's why it means 'to combine paints' to get the color you want.