black
black /ˈblæk/
adjective
-
()
Being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
(
black
)
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
Black leather jackets
black leather jackets
As black as coal
as black as coal
Rich black soil
rich black soil
-
()
Marked by anger, resentment or hostility
(
black
)
marked by anger, resentment or hostility
Black looks
black looks
Black words
black words
-
()
Of or belonging to a racial group especially of sub-Saharan African origin
(
black
)
of or belonging to a racial group especially of sub-Saharan African origin
A great people--a black people--...injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization
a great people--a black people--...injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization
-
()
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
(
calamitous
, fatal
, fateful
, black
, disastrous
)
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
The stock market crashed on Black Friday
the stock market crashed on Black Friday
A calamitous defeat
a calamitous defeat
The battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign
the battle was a disastrous end to a disastrous campaign
Such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory
such doctrines, if true, would be absolutely fatal to my theory
It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it
it is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it
A fateful error
a fateful error
-
()
Stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable
(
sinister
, black
, dark
)
stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable
Black deeds
black deeds
A black lie
a black lie
His black heart has concocted yet another black deed
his black heart has concocted yet another black deed
Darth Vader of the dark side
Darth Vader of the dark side
A dark purpose
a dark purpose
Dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility
dark undercurrents of ethnic hostility
The scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him
the scheme of some sinister intelligence bent on punishing him
-
()
Offering little or no hope
(
dim
, black
, bleak
)
offering little or no hope
The future looked black
the future looked black
Prospects were bleak
prospects were bleak
Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult
Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult
Took a dim view of things
took a dim view of things
-
()
Extremely dark
(
pitch-black
, pitch-dark
, black
)
extremely dark
A black moonless night
a black moonless night
Through the pitch-black woods
through the pitch-black woods
It was pitch-dark in the cellar
it was pitch-dark in the cellar
-
()
(of the face) made black especially as with suffused blood
(
blackened
, black
)
(of the face) made black especially as with suffused blood
A face black with fury
a face black with fury
-
Soiled with dirt or soot
(
black
, smutty
)
soiled with dirt or soot
With feet black from playing outdoors
with feet black from playing outdoors
His shirt was black within an hour
his shirt was black within an hour
-
(of coffee) without cream or sugar
(
black
)
(of coffee) without cream or sugar
-
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
(
black
, disgraceful
, ignominious
, inglorious
, opprobrious
, shameful
)
(used of conduct or character) deserving or bringing disgrace or shame
Man...has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands
Man...has written one of his blackest records as a destroyer on the oceanic islands
An ignominious retreat
an ignominious retreat
Inglorious defeat
inglorious defeat
An opprobrious monument to human greed
an opprobrious monument to human greed
A shameful display of cowardice
a shameful display of cowardice
-
Distributed or sold illicitly
(
black
, bootleg
, smuggled
, black-market
, contraband
)
distributed or sold illicitly
The black economy pays no taxes
the black economy pays no taxes
-
(of intelligence operations) deliberately misleading
(
black
)
(of intelligence operations) deliberately misleading
Black propaganda
black propaganda
-
Harshly ironic or sinister
(
black
, mordant
, grim
)
harshly ironic or sinister
Black humor
black humor
A grim joke
a grim joke
Grim laughter
grim laughter
Fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit
fun ranging from slapstick clowning ... to savage mordant wit
noun
-
()
The quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
(
inkiness
, black
, blackness
)
the quality or state of the achromatic color of least lightness (bearing the least resemblance to white)
The room was painted in a deep black, creating a dramatic atmosphere.
The room was painted in a deep black, creating a dramatic atmosphere.
-
Black clothing (worn as a sign of mourning)
(
black
)
black clothing (worn as a sign of mourning)
The widow wore black
the widow wore black
-
(board games) the darker pieces
(
black
)
(board games) the darker pieces
The chess pieces are black and white
The chess pieces are black and white
-
Total absence of light
(
black
, lightlessness
, pitch blackness
, blackness
, total darkness
)
total absence of light
They fumbled around in total darkness
they fumbled around in total darkness
In the black of night
in the black of night
verb
-
Make or become black
(
black
, melanise
[British] , melanize
, blacken
, nigrify
[Archaic] )
make or become black
The smoke blackened the ceiling
The smoke blackened the ceiling
The ceiling blackened
The ceiling blackened
noun
-
A person with African ancestry,
(
African-American
, Black
, Negroid
, Negro
)
a person with African ancestry,
Negro
Negro
Negroid
Negroid
-
Popular child actress of the 1930's (born in 1928)
(
Black
, Shirley Temple
, Shirley Temple Black
)
popular child actress of the 1930's (born in 1928)
-
British chemist who identified carbon dioxide and who formulated the concepts of specific heat and latent heat (1728-1799)
(
Black
, Joseph Black
)
British chemist who identified carbon dioxide and who formulated the concepts of specific heat and latent heat (1728-1799)