Definition

A plant that produces a blue dye, commonly known as indigo, or the dye itself that is derived from this plant.

Example

The fabric was dyed with anil to give it a rich blue color.

Conversation

I just learned about the history of anil dye in art class.

Oh really? I didn't know it had such an interesting background.

Yeah, it was used for centuries to create beautiful blue colors.

That's cool! I love how natural dyes like anil can be so vibrant.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

The word 'anil' comes from the Spanish 'añil', which is derived from the Arabic 'النيل' (al-nīl), meaning 'the Nile'. The term originally referred to the indigo dye obtained from the plant Indigofera tinctoria, which was historically cultivated in the region of the Nile. Thus, 'anil' refers to the dye derived from this plant, associated with the Nile region.

Memory Tip

Think of the Arabic word for the Nile, which connects to the indigo dye that 'anil' represents. This helps you remember that 'anil' refers to a dye linked to the Nile.

Visually Confused Words