First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1black
adjective \ˈblak\
: having the very dark color of coal or the night sky
: very dark because there is no light
: of or relating to a race of people who have dark skin and who come originally from Africa
Full Definition of BLACK
1
2
a : having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy <the black Irish> b (1) often capitalized : of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin <black Americans> (2) : of or relating to the African-American people or their culture <black literature> <a black college> <black pride> <black studies> (3) : typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture <trying to sound black> <tried to play blacker jazz>
3
: dressed in black
5
a : characterized by the absence of light <a black night> b : reflecting or transmitting little or no light <black water> c : served without milk or cream <black coffee>
6
a : thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked <a black deed> b : indicative of condemnation or discredit <got a black mark for being late>
7
: connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil <black magic>
8
a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous <black despair> b : marked by the occurrence of disaster <black Friday>
9
: characterized by hostility or angry discontent : sullen <black resentment filled his heart>
10
chiefly British : subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union
11
a of propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale b : characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda <black radio>
12
: characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire <black humor>
13
: of or relating to covert intelligence operations <black government programs>
— black·ish \ˈbla-kish\ adjective
— black·ly adverb
— black·ness noun
See black defined for English-language learners
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Origin of BLACK
Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein
Related to BLACK
- Synonyms
- ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, sable
- Antonyms
- white
2black
noun
: the dark color of coal or the night sky
: black clothing
: a person belonging to a race of people who have dark skin : a black person
Full Definition of BLACK
1
: a black pigment or dye; especially : one consisting largely of carbon
2
: the achromatic color of least lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that neither reflect nor transmit light
3
: something that is black: as a : black clothing <looks good in black> b : a black animal (as a horse)
4
a : a person belonging to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin b : african-american
5
: the pieces of a dark color in a board game for two players (as chess)
6
: total or nearly total absence of light <the black of night>
7
: the condition of making a profit —usually used with the <operating in the black> — compare red
See black defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BLACK
before 12th century
Related to BLACK
3black
verb
: to make (something) black
: to refuse to work for or with (a business, employer, etc.) or to buy (goods, services, etc.)
Full Definition of BLACK
intransitive verb
: to become black
transitive verb
1
: to make black
2
chiefly British : to declare (as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members
See black defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of BLACK
13th century
Black
biographical name \ˈblak\
Definition of BLACK
Hugo LaFayette 1886–1971 Am. jurist & polit.
Black
biographical name
Definition of BLACK
Sir James Whyte 1924–2010 British pharmacologist
Black
geographical name
Definition of BLACK
1
river 101 miles (162 kilometers) E cen Louisiana flowing S into Red River
2
or in China Amo \ˈä-ˈmō\ or in Vietnam Da \ˈdä\ river 500 miles (805 kilometers) SE Asia rising in cen Yunnan, China & flowing SE to Red River in N Vietnam
BLACKNESS Defined for Kids
1black
adjective \ˈblak\
black·erblack·est
Definition of BLACK for Kids
1
: of the color of coal : colored black
2
: very dark <a black night>
3
often cap : of or relating to any peoples having dark skin and especially any of the original peoples of Africa south of the Sahara
4
: of or relating to Americans having ancestors from Africa south of the Sahara
5
: wicked 1 <a black deed>
6
: very sad or gloomy <in a black mood>
2black
noun
Definition of BLACK for Kids
1
: the color of coal : the opposite of white
2
: black clothing <He is dressed in black.>
3
: a person belonging to a race of people having dark skin
4
: an American having black African ancestors : african-american
5
: total or near total darkness <the black of night>
6
: the condition of making a profit <The company is in the black.>
3black
verb
blackedblack·ing
Definition of BLACK for Kids
: blacken 1
— black out
: to lose consciousness or the ability to see for a short time
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