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1705, anonymous translator, “Part. XI. Of the Dying of Thread, and Cloth made of Hemp, Flax or Cotten, with whatever is necessary to the perfection of Silk Dying, and the making and Dying of Hats.”, in The Whole Art of Dying., London: William Pearson, and sold by J Nutt,, →OCLC, section CCXLIX, page 300:
But tho’ Black cannot be Dyed to the laſt perfection either in Wool or Hair without Woad, the Hatters have quite left off their accuſtomed uſe of it in the Dying of Hatts, and believe at the ſame time, that too ſtrong a Black makes the Hairs or Nap fall off, which is very neceſſary for the ſale and beauty of the Hatts, though this rather proceeds from the hand of the Workman that dreſſes them than in Dying them, or the Hairs not being ſufficiently fulled, or ſtrongly enough united to the felt; […]
1816, Thomas Packer, “On dying Wool Green”, in The Dyer’s Guide; being an Introduction to the Art of Dying, London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones,, →OCLC, page 61:
The woollen goods have first a blue ground from the woad vat, light or full according to the pattern, and then they have a preparation afterward of alum and tartar, weak or strong, according to the lightness or fulness of the pattern; and afterwards are dyed in weld liquor to receive the yellow part of the dye. Many of these shades are more readily done by dying the wool first yellow with old fustic, with preparation of alum and tartar, and using the chemic blue vat, made with oil of vitriol and indigo.
1817, William Tucker, “Names of Dying Drugs, and the current Prices, averaged for seven Years together”, in The Family Dyer and Scourer; being a Complete Treatise on the Whole Art of Cleaning and Dying:, London: Sherwood, Neely, and Jones,, →OCLC, page 29:
From these an accurate idea may be formed as to the expence of dying each garment, which will not exceed one eighth of the charge made by a dyer. Thus it will be seen that eight garments may be dyed and re-dyed at the expence charged by the trade for a single one.
Archaic spelling of die(“a cube used in games of chance”).
1726 October 28, [Jonathan Swift], “The Author Permitted to See the Grand Academy of Lagado.”, in Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. , volume II, London: Benj Motte,, →OCLC, part III (A Voyage to Laputa, Balnibarbi, Glubbdubdribb, Luggnagg, and Japan), page 72:
The Superficies was compoſed of ſeveral bits of Wood, about the bigneſs of a Dye, but ſome larger than others.
1748, David Hume, Enquiries concerning the human understanding and concerning the principles of moral., London: Oxford University Press, published 1973, § 46:
If a dye were marked with one figure or number of spots on four sides, and with another figure or number of spots on the two remaining sides, it would be more probable, that the former would turn up than the latter;