colourless

Everyday

1. Colourless means having no colour at all, like clear water or air. tree →
2. Colourless can mean pale and grey: «a colourless face». tree →
3. Colourless can mean dull and boring, with nothing interesting: «a colourless town». tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons, many gases (oxygen, carbon dioxide) and liquids (water) are colourless; pupils learn that colourless is not the same as invisible or safe, as some colourless gases are poisonous. In stories, a colourless person is dull or shy. Phrases: «colourless liquid», «colourless gas», «colourless and odourless».

Examples

• Water is a colourless liquid. tree →
• Oxygen is a colourless gas with no smell. tree →
• After the shock, her face was colourless. tree →
• The old town felt grey and colourless. tree →
• Carbon monoxide is colourless and deadly, so homes need alarms. tree →
• Mix the colourless solution with the indicator and watch it turn pink. tree →

Note

British spelling «colourless»; US «colorless». Colourless means «no colour», but «clear» and «transparent» mean you can see through it; a colourless liquid is usually clear. Safety trap: a colourless liquid in a bottle may not be water.