Coloring is the act of adding color to something, usually by filling in shapes or pictures with crayons, markers, colored pencils, or paint. When you sit down with a coloring book and carefully fill in the outlines of animals, vehicles, or patterns, you're coloring. Young children often start with simple coloring pages, while older kids might work on intricate designs that require patience and attention to detail.

The word also describes the colors something naturally has. The coloring of a monarch butterfly includes bold orange and black patterns that warn predators to stay away. A chameleon can change its coloring to blend into its surroundings. When describing someone's appearance, we might mention their skin color or hair color.

Coloring can also mean influencing how something is understood or perceived. If a news reporter lets personal opinions affect their story, those opinions are coloring their reporting. When you describe a movie you didn't like, your negative feelings might color how you explain the plot to a friend.