Colourings are substances that are added to food, cosmetics and textiles to enhance their appearance or properties. They come in various forms including dyes, pigments, and tints. Synonyms for colourings include chromatic agents, shading, hues, tinctures, and tinges. Chromatic agents refer to the substances that give color to an item or product. Shades refer to the different variations of color that can be produced by using different amounts of a chromatic agent. Hues refer to the pure colors of the spectrum. Tinctures and tinges are used to describe a slight or delicate shade of color. All of these synonyms for colourings help to better describe the various types and uses of colorants.