rouge

Rouge is most often a red cosmetic put on the cheeks to add color, much like what we now usually call blush. It can also mean a red powder or pigment, and as a verb it means to make something red, especially the cheeks. The word comes from French, where it means "red." You can picture an old film star brushing a little rouge onto her cheeks before stepping into the light. The word carries a sense of beauty, color, and a warm, healthy glow.

The word rouge has a long history tied to beauty and color. Most commonly, rouge means a red cosmetic used on the cheeks, and sometimes the lips, to give the face more color. In modern everyday English, people often say blush instead, but rouge is still understood and often sounds older, more elegant, or more theatrical. "She carefully applied a touch of rouge to accent her cheekbones."

The word can also refer more generally to a red pigment or coloring substance. In that sense, it is not only about makeup but about the material itself. In older or more literary writing, you may also see it used for a red or rosy color.

As a verb, "to rouge" means to color something red or to put this cosmetic on. It can also mean to make the cheeks look red. "The makeup artist rouged her cheeks before the performance." In some contexts, it may describe cheeks becoming red from cold air, exercise, or strong feeling, though that use is less common.

In specialized contexts, you may also meet "jeweler's rouge," a fine red polishing powder used to finish metals. That sense is less common for everyday learners, but it is still part of the word's wider story. Overall, rouge usually points first to red face makeup, then more broadly to red coloring or the act of making something red.