Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective Having or appearing to have only one color.
  • adjective Of or composed of radiation of only one wavelength.
  • adjective Done in monochrome.
  • adjective Exhibiting monochromatism.
  • adjective Unvarying or dull.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Consisting of light of one wave-length, and in that sense of one color only, as the light produced by a Bunsen flame in which sodium is being volatilized.
  • In psychology, pertaining to or characterized by monochromasy: as, monochromatic vision.
  • Having an affinity for only one dye at a time, in contradistinction to polychromatic.
  • noun Same as monochromate, 2.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Consisting of one color, or presenting rays of light of one color only.
  • adjective (Opt.) a lamp whose flame yields rays of some one homogenous light. It is of great importance in optical experiments.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Having only one color, represented by differing hues and tints. For example shades in a black and white television.
  • adjective Perceptive of only one color; unable to distinguish colors; total color blindness.
  • adjective figuratively Plain, dull, lifeless.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective (of light or other electromagnetic radiation) having only one wavelength
  • adjective having or appearing to have only one color
  • adjective of or relating to monochromatism

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From mono- +‎ chromatic, mono- from Ancient Greek μόνος (monos, "alone, only, sole, single"), chromatic from Ancient Greek χρῶμα (khroma, "color").

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Examples

  • The statue measures approximately 7. 5” high x 4. 75” wide x 3. 25” deep, is painted in monochromatic tones, features a Bat-logo-shaped base and is packaged in a black and white box.

    DC Comics for February 2010 | Major Spoilers - Comic Book Reviews and News 2009

  • The look is again monochromatic with splashes of color, but something about “The Spirit” seems even less cohesive than “Sin City.”

    Miller under the influence of “The Spirit” » Scene-Stealers 2008

  • The women wore drab pantsuits, in monochromatic, dull, dark colors, and they decorated their homes in beige.

    Year Around Feminine Fashions 2007

  • The women wore drab pantsuits, in monochromatic, dull, dark colors, and they decorated their homes in beige.

    Archive 2007-05-01 2007

  • The process has to be done in monochromatic light.

    Lippmann's and Gabor's Revolutionary Approach to Imaging 2005

  • The term "Grisaille" refers to a monochromatic technique historically employed by master artists and artisans.

    Reveling in the Gray Area Lizzie Simon 2011

  • And the other thing I made was this little set of pink inchies for the Inching Artists challenge "monochromatic" - they are not as glaring pink as they appear in the picture - I may try to get a better photo in better light, if we ever get such a thing - the light at the moment is not great, as everything is grey and drizzly and horrible - makes a (not very pleasant) change from my week in San Diego!

    A whole lotta Tuesday going on katelnorth 2007

  • And the other thing I made was this little set of pink inchies for the Inching Artists challenge "monochromatic" - they are not as glaring pink as they appear in the picture - I may try to get a better photo in better light, if we ever get such a thing - the light at the moment is not great, as everything is grey and drizzly and horrible - makes a (not very pleasant) change from my week in San Diego!

    Archive 2007-11-01 katelnorth 2007

  • They are wines that could never be called monochromatic, simple, or “grape juice magnets” as a friend called them.

    The World’s Greatest Wine Estates Jr. Robert M. Parker 2005

  • They are wines that could never be called monochromatic, simple, or “grape juice magnets” as a friend called them.

    The World’s Greatest Wine Estates Jr. Robert M. Parker 2005

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