black

²black

noun

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

Examples of BLACK

1. The wall was painted in black.
2. a mixture of grays and blacks
3. She was dressed in black.

First Known Use of BLACK

before 12th century

Related to BLACK

Synonyms: dark, blackness, candlelight, darkness, dusk, gloaming, gloom, murk, night, semidarkness, shade, shadows, twilight, umbra

Antonyms: blaze, brightness, brilliance, day, daylight, glare, glow, light, lightness

Related Words: midnight; blackout, brownout, dimout; shadiness, umbrage; dullness (also dulness), somberness; cloudiness, fogginess, haziness, mistiness, murkiness; dimness, faintness, gloominess, grayness, paleness; half-light

Near Antonyms: moonlight, starlight, sunlight; effulgence, radiance, radiancy, shine, sunshine; incandescence, luminance, luminescence, luminosity, luminousness

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Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion