coloration
UK: ˌkʌləˈreɪʃən | US: ˌkʌləˈreɪʃən
n. the appearance of something in terms of color; the natural color or pattern of an object or organism.
n. the act or process of applying color.
n. (figurative) a distinctive character or tone (e.g., of writing or music).
The word "coloration" derives from the Latin root "color" (meaning "hue" or "shade"), which entered English via Old French. The suffix "-ation" (from Latin "-atio") transforms the noun into a term denoting the process or result of coloring. Historically, it first appeared in English in the 17th century, primarily in artistic and biological contexts to describe the application or natural distribution of color. The figurative use emerged later, reflecting how language extends sensory metaphors to abstract qualities.
The butterfly’s vibrant coloration helps it blend into the rainforest.
The artist experimented with unconventional coloration in her paintings.
The documentary highlighted the coloration changes in chameleons.
His speech had a strong political coloration.
The lab studied the coloration process in synthetic dyes.