Definition of: vermilion

(vər·mil′yən) noun
1. A brilliant, durable red pigment consisting of mercuric sulfide, obtained native by grinding the mineral cinnabar to a fine powder, or artificially, as by treating a mixture of mercury and sulfur with potassium hydroxide.
2. The color of the pigment, an intense orange red.
—adjective Of a bright–red color.
—v.t. To color with vermilion; dye bright red. [<OF vermeilon, vermillon <vermeil VERMEIL]