warning-coloured
|warn-ing-col-oured|
🇺🇸
/ˈwɔrnɪŋ-ˈkʌlɚd/
🇬🇧
/ˈwɔːnɪŋ-ˈkʌləd/
having colours that warn
Etymology
'warning-coloured' is a modern English compound formed from the noun 'warning' and the adjective 'coloured'. 'warning' comes from Middle English 'warning' (related to Old English 'wærnung', from verbs meaning 'to give notice' or 'to warn'), and 'coloured' is from Middle English 'colour(ed)', from Old French 'colour', ultimately from Latin 'color' meaning 'hue, appearance'.
The compound arose in modern English by combining 'warning' + 'coloured' to describe objects that bear colours intended to warn or attract attention; the individual elements trace back through Middle English to Old English (for 'warning') and to Old French/Latin (for 'colour').
The individual words originally referred to the acts of warning and to hue; together they evolved into an adjectival compound meaning 'having colours used for warning' and are used descriptively in technical and informal contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having colours (or a colour pattern) intentionally used to warn or attract attention, typically bright or high-contrast hues such as yellow-and-black or red-and-white.
The hazard tape was warning-coloured with alternating yellow and black stripes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/12/15 05:42