red
♦♦♦ red /r'ed/ (reds redder reddest)
1 [COLOUR]
Something that is red is the colour of blood or fire.
...a bunch of red roses...
2 [ADJ]
If you say that someone's face is red, you mean that it is redder than its normal colour, because they are embarrassed, angry, or out of breath.
With a bright red face I was forced to admit that I had no real idea...
3 [ADJ]
You describe someone's hair as red when it is between red and brown in colour.
...a girl with red hair...
4 [N-MASS]
You can refer to red wine as red.
The spicy flavours in these dishes call for reds rather than whites.
5 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to someone as a red or a Red, you disapprove of the fact that they are a communist, a socialist, or have left-wing ideas. (INFORMAL)
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If a person or company is in the red or if their bank account is in the red, they have spent more money than they have in their account and therefore they owe money to the bank.
The theatre is £500,000 in the red...
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you see red, you suddenly become very angry.
I didn't mean to break his nose. I just saw red.
8
like a red rag to a bull: see ragred alert (red alerts)
[N-VAR]
If a hospital, a police force, or a military force is on red alert, they have been warned that there may be an emergency, so they can be ready to deal with it.
All the Plymouth hospitals are on red alert...red cab|bage (red cabbages)
[N-VAR]
A red cabbage is a cabbage with dark red leaves.red card (red cards)
[N-COUNT] usu singular
In football or rugby, if a player is shown the red card, the referee holds up a red card to indicate that the player must leave the pitch for breaking the rules.red car|pet (red carpets)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The red carpet is special treatment given to an important or honoured guest, for example the laying of a strip of red carpet for them to walk on.
We'll give her some VIP treatment and roll out the red carpet...red flag (red flags)
1 [N-COUNT]
A red flag is a flag that is red in colour and is used as a symbol to represent communism and socialism or to indicate danger or as a sign that you should stop.
Then the rain came and the red flag went up to signal a halt.
2 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to something as a red flag, you mean that it acts as a danger signal.
The abnormal bleeding is your body's own red flag of danger.red her|ring (red herrings)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that something is a red herring, you mean that it is not important and it takes your attention away from the main subject or problem you are considering.
As Dr Smith left he said that the inquiry was something of a red herring.red light (red lights)
1 [N-COUNT]
A red light is a traffic signal which shines red to indicate that drivers must stop.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
The red-light district of a city is the area where prostitutes work.red meat (red meats)
[N-MASS]
Red meat is meat such as beef or lamb, which is dark brown in colour after it has been cooked.
≠ white meatred pep|per (red peppers)
1 [N-VAR]
Red peppers are peppers which are sweet-tasting and can be used in cooking or eaten raw in salads.
2 [N-MASS]
Red pepper is a hot-tasting spicy powder made from the flesh and seeds of small, dried, red peppers. It is used for flavouring food.
= cayenne pepperred tape
[N-UNCOUNT]
You refer to official rules and procedures as red tape when they seem unnecessary and cause delay.
The little money that was available was tied up in bureaucratic red tape.
1 [COLOUR]
Something that is red is the colour of blood or fire.
...a bunch of red roses...
2 [ADJ]
If you say that someone's face is red, you mean that it is redder than its normal colour, because they are embarrassed, angry, or out of breath.
With a bright red face I was forced to admit that I had no real idea...
3 [ADJ]
You describe someone's hair as red when it is between red and brown in colour.
...a girl with red hair...
4 [N-MASS]
You can refer to red wine as red.
The spicy flavours in these dishes call for reds rather than whites.
5 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to someone as a red or a Red, you disapprove of the fact that they are a communist, a socialist, or have left-wing ideas. (INFORMAL)
6 [PHRASE] v-link PHR
If a person or company is in the red or if their bank account is in the red, they have spent more money than they have in their account and therefore they owe money to the bank.
The theatre is £500,000 in the red...
7 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you see red, you suddenly become very angry.
I didn't mean to break his nose. I just saw red.
8
like a red rag to a bull: see ragred alert (red alerts)
[N-VAR]
If a hospital, a police force, or a military force is on red alert, they have been warned that there may be an emergency, so they can be ready to deal with it.
All the Plymouth hospitals are on red alert...red cab|bage (red cabbages)
[N-VAR]
A red cabbage is a cabbage with dark red leaves.red card (red cards)
[N-COUNT] usu singular
In football or rugby, if a player is shown the red card, the referee holds up a red card to indicate that the player must leave the pitch for breaking the rules.red car|pet (red carpets)
[N-COUNT] usu sing
The red carpet is special treatment given to an important or honoured guest, for example the laying of a strip of red carpet for them to walk on.
We'll give her some VIP treatment and roll out the red carpet...red flag (red flags)
1 [N-COUNT]
A red flag is a flag that is red in colour and is used as a symbol to represent communism and socialism or to indicate danger or as a sign that you should stop.
Then the rain came and the red flag went up to signal a halt.
2 [N-COUNT]
If you refer to something as a red flag, you mean that it acts as a danger signal.
The abnormal bleeding is your body's own red flag of danger.red her|ring (red herrings)
[N-COUNT]
If you say that something is a red herring, you mean that it is not important and it takes your attention away from the main subject or problem you are considering.
As Dr Smith left he said that the inquiry was something of a red herring.red light (red lights)
1 [N-COUNT]
A red light is a traffic signal which shines red to indicate that drivers must stop.
2 [ADJ] ADJ n
The red-light district of a city is the area where prostitutes work.red meat (red meats)
[N-MASS]
Red meat is meat such as beef or lamb, which is dark brown in colour after it has been cooked.
≠ white meatred pep|per (red peppers)
1 [N-VAR]
Red peppers are peppers which are sweet-tasting and can be used in cooking or eaten raw in salads.
2 [N-MASS]
Red pepper is a hot-tasting spicy powder made from the flesh and seeds of small, dried, red peppers. It is used for flavouring food.
= cayenne pepperred tape
[N-UNCOUNT]
You refer to official rules and procedures as red tape when they seem unnecessary and cause delay.
The little money that was available was tied up in bureaucratic red tape.