a red-purple to deep purple dye obtained from snails or made synthetically
a vivid purplish-red color; in ancient Rome and Byzantium, it was the color worn by an emperor or senior magistrate
A deep purple dyestuff obtained from the bodies of mollusks of the genus Murex (now moved to the genus Haustellum).
Of a deep purple colour, tinted with red, like that of the dye.