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Definition of black
(Entry 1 of 6)
1 : of the color black (see black entry 2 sense 2)
a black sweater a black dog as black as coal
2 or Black
a : of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin
black Americans
b : of or relating to African American people or their culture
black literature a black college Black pride Black studies
3 : dressed in black (see black entry 2 sense 2)
playing for the black team
5a : 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
6a old-fashioned + literary : thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked When the King heard of this black deed, in his grief and rage he denounced relentless war against his Barons …— Charles Dickens
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 the black arts
8a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous black despair
b : marked by the occurrence of disaster
black Friday
9a : characterized by hostility or angry discontent : sullen black resentment filled his heart
b : distorted or darkened by anger
his face was black with rage
10 : having dark skin, hair, and eyes
the black Irish
11 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
a ship that was declared black by the union
12a of propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale
Black propaganda … is the business of going to elaborate ends to spread half-true, misleading or downright false information to get your enemy in trouble.— Everett G. Martin
b : characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda
Press reports say that in addition to dropping leaflets over urban areas, messages were broadcast over two "black" radio stations, … both of which were operated by the CIA. — Strategic Intelligence
14 : of or relating to covert intelligence operations
black government programs
15 : having a very deep or low register (see register entry 1 sense 4b)
a bass with a black voice
black
nounDefinition of black (Entry 2 of 6)
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 sense 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 as
a : black clothing
looks good in black
b : 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 skin
b : african american
Note: Use of the noun black in the singular to refer to a person is considered offensive. The plural form blacks is commonly used to refer to black people as a group or community.
a position supported by both blacks and whites blacks and other people of color5 in board games : the pieces of a dark color in a board game for two players (such as chess)
black moves second
6 : total or nearly total absence of light
the black of night
7 : the condition of making a profit
—usually used with theoperating in the black — compare red sense 6
black
verbblacked; blacking; blacks
Definition of black (Entry 3 of 6)
: to become black (see black entry 1)
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
Black
biographical name (1)Definition of Black (Entry 4 of 6)
Hugo LaFayette 1886–1971 American jurist and politician
Black
biographical name (2)Definition of Black (Entry 5 of 6)
Sir James Whyte 1924–2010 British pharmacologist
Black
geographical nameDefinition of Black (Entry 6 of 6)
1 river 101 miles (162 kilometers) long in east central Louisiana flowing south into the Red River
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The first known use of black was before the 12th century
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