Black — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Black
Black (adjective)
- having the very dark color of the night sky or the eye's pupil, of the color black
- of or relating to any of various population groups of especially African ancestry often considered as having dark pigmentation of the skin but in fact having a wide range of skin colors
- of or relating to Black people and often especially to African American people or their culture
Black (noun)
- a pigment or dye of the color black, a black pigment or dye; especially, one consisting largely of carbon
- the achromatic color of least lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that neither reflect nor transmit light
- something that is black
Black (verb)
- to become black, blacken
- to make black
- to declare (something, such as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members
Black (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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having the color of soot or coal
"we adopted a little black kitten"
-
causing or marked by an atmosphere lacking in cheer
"the Friday of the stock market crash was indeed a black day for the country"
-
not having a light complexion
"a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man"
-
being without light or without much light
"on a black night such as this, the imagination runs wild"
-
not clean
"after mopping the floor, the water in the bucket was black"
Black (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
a time or place of little or no light
"we had to find our way on back roads in the black of night"
Black (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
-
as in boycott, blackball
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Black
The most common words with a similar meaning to Black:
Antonyms & Opposite Words for Black
Words with the opposite meaning of Black:
Near Antonyms of Black
Word Forms of Black
Origin & Etymology of Black
Middle English blak, blake, going back to Old English blæc, blac "black, (of other colors) dark," going back to West Germanic *blaka- (whence also Old Saxon blak "ink," Middle Low German black, blak, Middle Dutch blak, Old High German blah- only in compounds, as blahfaro "ink-colored, deep blue"), perhaps adjectival derivative of a verb *blakōn- (whence Middle Dutch & Middle Low German blaken "to burn, scorch"), from a verbal base *blak- (whence also Old High German blecken, blec(c)hen "to flash [of lightning], shine, sparkle" < *blakjan-), o-grade ablaut of Indo-European *bhleg- "shine, be bright" phlegm
First known use: before 12th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Black
- CEFR level: A1 English Vocabulary — Page 2
- Topics: Clothes & Appearance
Words & Phrases Containing Black
Frequently Asked Questions about Black
What does "Black" mean?
"Black" means having the very dark color of the night sky or the eye's pupil, of the color black. As an an adjective, a noun and a verb, it is defined as: having the very dark color of the night sky or the eye's pupil, of the color black. It has 7 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Black"?
Other words for "Black" include ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, sable, bleak and cheerless. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Black" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Black"?
There are 233 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Black". Common alternatives include ebony, pitch-black, pitch-dark, pitchy, raven, sable, bleak, cheerless, chill and Cimmerian.
What is the opposite of "Black"?
Antonyms of "Black" include white, bright, cheerful, cheering, cheery, comforting, cordial and festive. Near antonyms include pale, palish, blithe and blithesome.
How do you use "Black" in a sentence?
Examples of "Black" in a sentence: "we adopted a little black kitten"; "the Friday of the stock market crash was indeed a black day for the country"; "a black Irishman, Tyrone Power had the classic looks of a Hollywood leading man".
Is "Black" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Black" can be used as an adjective, a noun and a verb, depending on the context.
Is "Black" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As an A1-level word, "Black" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.
How do you pronounce "Black"?
"Black" is pronounced /ˈblak/.