base color; underlying tone; essential nature
Meanings
2 senses · 7 examplesnoun
base color; the color underneath a top layer
neutralUsed literally in art, design, and printing to refer to the foundational color upon which other colors are applied.
The base color of this painting is light blue.
Before applying lipstick, she first used a primer to even out the base color of her lips.
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The fabric's base color determines the final effect of the print.
noun
underlying tone; essential quality or nature
literaryUsed metaphorically to describe the fundamental mood, characteristic, or essential nature of something abstract, such as a story, era, or personality.
The entire script has a tragic undertone.
His childhood experiences painted his personality with a melancholic undertone.
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The cultural foundation of this work is a deep nostalgia for the homeland.
Optimism is the underlying tone of her life.