The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Carmine \Car"mine\, n. [F. carmin (cf. Sp. carmin, It.
   carminio), contr. from LL. carmesinus purple color. See
   Crimson.]
   1. A rich red or crimson color with a shade of purple.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A beautiful pigment, or a lake, of this color, prepared
      from cochineal, and used in miniature painting.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Chem.) The essential coloring principle of cochineal,
      extracted as a purple-red amorphous mass. It is a
      glucoside and possesses acid properties; -- hence called
      also carminic acid.
      [1913 Webster]

   Carmine red (Chem.), a coloring matter obtained from
      carmine as a purple-red substance, and probably allied to
      the phthale["i]ns.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

carmine
    adj 1: of a color at the end of the color spectrum (next to
           orange); resembling the color of blood or cherries or
           tomatoes or rubies [syn: red, reddish, ruddy,
           blood-red, carmine, cerise, cherry, cherry-red,
           crimson, ruby, ruby-red, scarlet]
    n 1: a variable color averaging a vivid red [syn: cardinal,
         carmine]
    v 1: color carmine