yellow
YELLOW is a six-letter color word worth 12 Scrabble points, with three one-letter neighbors and no listed anagrams.
Noun 4 meanings
The color of sunflower petals and lemons; the color obtained by mixing green and red light, or by subtracting blue from white light; the color evoked by light of wavelength around 580 nm; one of the three primary colors in subtractive color systems.
The middle light in a set of three traffic lights, the lighting of which indicates that drivers should stop short of the intersection if it is safe to do so.
One of the color balls used in snooker, with a value of 2 points.
One of two groups of object balls, or a ball from that group, as used in the principally British version of pool that makes use of unnumbered balls (the yellow(s) and red(s)); contrast stripes and solids in the originally American version with numbered balls).
Adjective 4 meanings
Of a yellow hue.
“He had a yellow laptop in his bag.”
Lacking courage.
Characterized by sensationalism, lurid content, and doubtful accuracy.
Synonym of high yellow.
Verb 2 meanings
To become yellow or yellower.
To make (something) yellow or yellower.
Etymology
From Middle English yelwe, yelou, from Old English ġeolwe, oblique form of Old English ġeolu, from Proto-West Germanic *gelu, from Proto-Germanic *gelwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃wós, from *ǵʰelh₃- (“green, yellow”).
Similar and opposite words
YELLOW is familiar as the color of lemons and sunflower petals, but it also names a traffic signal and a snooker ball. Its letter mix gives it a 12-point base Scrabble score. The word has no listed anagrams, while FELLOW, MELLOW and BELLOW are close matches that differ by one letter.
What does yellow mean?
The most common meaning of YELLOW is the color associated with lemons and sunflower petals. The definition also describes yellow as a color produced by mixing red and green light, or by removing blue from white light.
YELLOW has two other specific uses in the definition. It can mean the middle light in a traffic signal, or the yellow ball in snooker, which is worth 2 points.
How YELLOW scores in Scrabble
YELLOW is worth 12 points before any board bonuses. The Y and W each contribute 4 points; E, both L tiles and O contribute 1 point apiece.
- The Y and W together provide 8 of the word’s 12 base points.
- Both L tiles are worth 1 point each, so the repeated letter adds little to the total.
- A premium square can raise the score, but the base value remains 12.
- The word has no listed anagrams, so rearranging its letters gives no other word.
Words close to YELLOW
YELLOW has three one-letter neighbors: FELLOW, MELLOW and BELLOW. Each keeps five letters in place and changes the opening letter, making these useful near-matches when you are checking a word pattern.
Its sound also links it with words that rhyme with the final “low” sound. The listed rhymes include FOLLOW, BELOW, ALLOW and SLOW, alongside FELLOW and MELLOW.
For more options, browse the six-letter word list or narrow it by its first or final letter. The Finder can help when you have a pattern but need other matching words.
Rhymes with yellow
All rhymesOne letter away
- FELLOW12
- MELLOW11
- BELLOW11
Questions people ask
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