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Noun: Tyrian purple  'ti-ree-un 'pur-pul
  1. A vivid purplish-red colour; in ancient Rome and Byzantium, it was the colour worn by an emperor or senior magistrate
     
  2. A red-purple to deep purple dye obtained from snails or made synthetically

Derived forms: Tyrian purples

Type of: dye, dyestuff, reddish purple, royal purple

Encyclopedia: Tyrian purple