- a red dye prepared from the dried bodies of the females of the cochineal insect, Dactylopius coccus, which lives on cactuses of Mexico, Central America, and other warm regions.
- a Mexican homopterous insect, Dactylopius coccus, that feeds on cacti
- a crimson substance obtained from the crushed bodies of these insects, used for colouring food and for dyeing
- the colour of this dye
- (as adjective)
