Colourful

Part of speech: adjective

Definitions

1. Exhibiting a vivid array of multiple colors that enhance aesthetic appeal
2. Displaying a striking mixture of hues that adds vibrancy and liveliness to a visual scene
3. Showing a wide range of bright and striking colors that attract attention ; having a personality or style that is full of life and distinctiveness

Etymology: "Colourful" is about as plain as English compounds get: "colour" with the suffix "-ful", which turns a noun into an adjective meaning "full of" or "having much of" that thing. So a colourful scene is one full of colour. The suffix itself is old and productive. "-ful" comes from the Old English word "full", which once stood on its own as an adjective meaning "filled" and was gradually worn down into a suffix, so that words like "hopeful" and "careful" came to mean "full of hope" and "full of care." "Colourful" follows the same pattern, and it is a formation built freely from the English noun "colour," rather than borrowed ready-made from another language.

Synonyms: vibrant, bright, lively, rich, variegated

Antonyms: dull, drab, colorless, muted, bleak