A colored picture has been filled in with crayons, markers, or paints, while a colored glass window lets tinted light shine through. If something is brightly colored, it has vivid, eye-catching hues.

It is often used with a specific color word, like a “purple backpack” or “green plates.” It can also refer to things that are many different colors, like a set of colored pencils.

“Colored” can also be used to describe how an experience affected you. You could say “Growing up near the ocean colored my taste in art: I've always enjoyed paintings of the sea.”

Be careful: colored has also been used as a label for groups of people, and it can be offensive or outdated depending on where you are and who you're talking to.