1
a
: a moderate to dark yellowish brown
b
: a moderate brown
2
: a brown earth that is darker in color than ocher and sienna because of its content of manganese and iron oxides and is highly valued as a permanent pigment either in the raw or burnt state
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of umber
specifically
: of the color of umber
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The mineral deposits of Italy provided sources of a number of natural pigments, among them umber. Since the late Renaissance, umber has been in great demand as a coloring agent. When crushed and mixed with paint, it produces an olive color known as raw umber; when crushed and burnt, it produces a darker tone known as burnt umber.
Examples of umber in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moritz Scheper, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
Brown is poised for popularity this fall after labels like Saint Laurent, Miu Miu and Ralph Lauren sent shades of umber down the runway.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 11 July 2024
Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024
Grab them in this tan shade or opt for the umber hue to best match your wild, wild wardrobe.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for umber 
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Noun
Layered hues from green through shades of golden ocher down to umber—in classic tempera painting, this would be exactly the understructure for (white) skin tones.
—Moritz Scheper, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
Brown is poised for popularity this fall after labels like Saint Laurent, Miu Miu and Ralph Lauren sent shades of umber down the runway.
—Hannah Malach, WWD, 11 July 2024
Adjective
The black is classic, but the umber shade is another great go-to for everything from a day of shoe shopping to a glamorous rooftop spritz at sunset.
—Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2024
Grab them in this tan shade or opt for the umber hue to best match your wild, wild wardrobe.
—Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 9 Oct. 2023
See all Example Sentences for umber
Dictionary Entries Near umber
Cite this Entry
“Umber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umber. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
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