coloration
UK[ˌkʌləˈreɪʃn]US[ˌkʌləˈreɪʃn]
n
the natural colors and patterns on something, especially an animal or plant
n
the particular way in which something is colored
Morpheme Breakdown
color
ation
color
hue, tint
ation
state or process of
Etymology
the word 'coloration' is a direct borrowing from late latin 'colorationem', the noun of action from the past participle stem of 'colorare', meaning 'to color'. the latin root 'color' itself is of uncertain origin, though it may be related to the verb 'celare', meaning 'to hide or conceal', suggesting an original sense of an outward appearance or covering. the suffix '-ation' is a productive nominalizer in english, borrowed from latin via old french, which indicates a state, condition, or the result of an action. thus, the literal construction 'the process or result of coloring' evolved seamlessly into its modern meanings, referring either to the specific application of color or, more commonly in biology, to the natural color patterns that constitute an organism's appearance.
Analysis
Structure: color (hue, tint) + ation (state or process of)
color: from latin 'color' (hue, tint, appearance), functioning as the core semantic root.
ation: from latin '-ationem', a suffix forming nouns denoting an action or process or its result.
Examples
the bird's brilliant coloration helps it attract a mate.
the artist studied the subtle coloration of the evening sky.
the lizard can change its coloration for camouflage.