rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryauburnReddish-brown color
adjective / noun

auburn

AW-bern/ˈɔːbərn/

A reddish-brown color, especially of hair.

Sunlight reveals the warm red tones in her auburn hair.

Portrait of a young white adult woman with naturally reddish-brown auburn hair catching daylight.
Etymology
auburnLatinoff-white, whitish

The ancestor meant whitish, and auburn originally described a pale or flaxen color. Influence from brown shifted it to reddish brown, especially as a description of hair.

In context

BLEACH DADDY5:50
whenever you formulate with Reds to always add in Browns if you need it to be more of an auburn color
Redheads 101: how to formulate for a natural red - brunette to auburn tutorial

More examples

  • He chose auburn dye for the costume wig.
  • Her hair had faded from auburn to a softer brown.
  • The portrait captures his dark auburn beard.

Similar words

chestnut
Usually suggests brown with less pronounced red coloring.
copper
Suggests a brighter, more orange-red shade.