brownish

Everyday

1. Slightly brown; of a colour that is close to brown but not quite. tree →
2. Brown mixed with another colour, as in brownish-green or brownish-red. tree →

In the lessons

Used in describing things in stories and in science (the colour of a leaf, a rock, soil, an animal's fur). The ending -ish means «a bit» or «rather»: brownish, greenish, tallish, smallish. Often joined to another colour: brownish-yellow, brownish-grey.

Examples

• The pond water looked brownish after the rain. tree →
• The Water Rat's coat was a soft brownish colour. tree →
• The leaves turn brownish in autumn. tree →
• We found a brownish rock with white stripes. tree →
• Her eyes are brownish-green. tree →
• The old photo had gone brownish with age. tree →
• Mole saw a brownish shape moving among the reeds. tree →
• The bread was toasted until it was brownish on top. tree →

Note

Adjective only; no plural. Spelled with -ish added to brown. -ish makes a colour less exact: brownish = «more or less brown». Do not confuse with «brownie» (a small cake, or a young Girl Guide).