yellowing

Verb

yellow (third-person singular simple present yellows, present participle yellowing, simple past and past participle yellowed)

1. (intransitive) To become yellow or yellower.
   • Then suddenly, with the least warning, the sky yellows and the Chergui blows in from the Sahara, stinging the eyes and choking with its sandy, sticky breath.1977, Alistair Horne, A Savage War of Peace, New York: Review Books, published 2006, page 47
2. (transitive) To make (something) yellow or yellower.
3. (historical, transitive, Royal Navy) To promote (a captain) to flag rank without command of a squadron, ending his career; to make him a yellow admiral.
   • Then they might yellow him if they wanted to; he would be satisfied with Admiral’s rank.1938, C. S. Forester, chapter 2, in A Ship of the Line, London: Michael Joseph

See all 23 meanings of yellow