Definition of black
1a : of the color black (see 2black 2) a black sweater a black dog as black as coalb (1) : very dark in color his face was black with rage (2) : having a very deep or low register (see 1register 4b) a bass with a black voice (3) : heavy, serious the play was a black intrigue
2a : having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy the black Irishb (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 (see 2black 2) playing for the black team
5a : characterized by the absence of light a black nightb : reflecting or transmitting little or no light black waterc : served without milk or cream black coffee
6a : thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked a black deedb : 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 the black arts
8a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous black despairb : marked by the occurrence of disaster black Friday
blackly
adverbblackness
nounRead the Latest from M-W
Examples of black in a Sentence
a little black dress blends into the night very well
Origin and Etymology 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
First Known Use: before 12th century
black
Definition of black
1 : a pigment or dye of the color black : a black pigment or dye; especially : one consisting largely of carbon
2 : the achromatic (see achromatic 3) color of least lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that neither reflect nor transmit light walls painted in black
3 : something that is black: such asa : black clothing looks good in blackb : a black animal (such as a horse)c baseball : the narrow, black edge of home plate a pitch on the black [=a pitch that crosses over the very edge of home plate]
4a : a person belonging to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skinb : african-american a position supported by both blacks and whites blacks and other people of color
5 in board games : the pieces of a dark color in a board game for two players (such as chess) black moves first
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 in a Sentence
The wall was painted in black.
a mixture of grays and blacks
She was dressed in black.
Origin and Etymology of black
see 1black
First Known Use: before 12th century
black
Definition of black
intransitive verb
: to become black (see 1black)
transitive verb
1 : to make black blacked his boots
2 chiefly British : to declare (something, such as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members
Examples of black in a Sentence
He blacked his boots with polish.
Labor union members have blacked the company.
Origin and Etymology of black
see 1black
First Known Use: 13th century
Black
playDefinition of Black
Hugo LaFayette 1886–1971 American jurist and politician
Black
Definition of Black
Sir James Whyte 1924–2010 British pharmacologist
Black
Definition of Black
1 river 101 miles (162 kilometers) long in east central Louisiana flowing south into the Red River
2 or in China Amoplay \ˈä-ˈmō\ or in Vietnam Daplay \ˈdä\ river 500 miles (805 kilometers) long in southeastern Asia rising in central Yunnan, China, and flowing southeast to the Red River in northern Vietnam
BLACK Defined for English Language Learners
black
playDefinition of black for English Language Learners
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: having the very dark color of coal or the night sky
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: very dark because there is no light
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: of or relating to a race of people who have dark skin and who come originally from Africa
black
Definition of black for English Language Learners
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: the dark color of coal or the night sky
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: black clothing
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: a person belonging to a race of people who have dark skin : a black person
black
Definition of black for English Language Learners
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: to make (something) black
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: to refuse to work for or with (a business, employer, etc.) or to buy (goods, services, etc.)
BLACK Defined for Kids
Definition of black for Students
blacker
;blackest
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
7 : unfriendly 1 a black look
blackish
adjectiveblackness
nounDefinition of black for Students
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.
Learn More about black
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See words that rhyme with black Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for black Spanish Central: Translation of black Nglish: Translation of black for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of black for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about black
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