black
blæk
Definition Synonyms Conjugation

Definition of black - Reverso English Dictionary

Adjective

1.
colorhaving the darkest color, absorbing most light
  • He wore a black suit to the meeting..
dark ebony
2.
beverageswithout cream or milk
  • I prefer my coffee black.
plain unsweetened
3.
ethnicitybelonging to a racial group with dark skin
  • She identifies as Black and proud.

Noun

1.
colorsthe color perceived in the absence of light
  • The night sky was a deep black.
darkness ebony jet
2.
ethnic groupmember of ethnic groups with dark skin
  • He identifies as a black.
African person of color

Verb

tr.
1.
surface dirtbecome or make dark through coating or soiling
  • Smoke blacked the ceiling within minutes.
2.
shoe polishingDatedapply blacking to shoes or similar itemsDated
  • He blacked his boots for the parade.
polish shine
3.
protestDatedUKboycott as part of an industrial disputeDatedUK
  • The workers blacked the company's products.
boycott protest strike
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Images of black

  • black: dark-colored ball used as target in snooker and pool games
    dark-colored ball used as target in snooker and pool games

Expressions with black

💡 Discover popular phrases, idioms, collocations, or phrasal verbs. Click any expression to learn more, listen to its pronunciation, or save it to your favorites.
small book with black cover, often used for notes
She scribbled her thoughts in a small black book..
dog with black fur
The black dog barked loudly at the stranger.
bruise around the eye from a blow
He got a black eye from the fight.
thin ice on roads, hard to see
Drivers should be cautious of black ice in winter.
printed page with black text on white paper
Please read the black and white before signing.
lose consciousness for a short time
He might black out if he stands up too fast.

Origin of black

Old English, blæc (dark)

Terms with black included in their meaning

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colors
color between black and white
grayadj.
color
having a color between black and white
greyadj.
paint shade
having a color between black and white
colors
neutral color between black and white
coloradj.
colorful
having colors instead of black and white
cooking
season food with ground black spice for flavor
art
add colors to a black-and-white drawing
ornithology
large black bird known for its intelligence

Examples of black in a sentence

  • She painted her nails black.
  • He likes his tea black.
  • The espresso was served black.
  • He is proud of his Black heritage.
  • The Black community held a cultural festival.
  • She prefers to start as black in tournaments.

View all translations of black

Click below to see the appropriate translations facing each meaning.
  1. French:noir, le noir, ...
  2. German:schwarz, Schwarz, ...
  3. Italian:nero, persona di colore, ...
  4. Spanish:oscuro, oscuridad, ...
  5. Portuguese:negro, preta, ...
  6. Chinese:黑色的, 黑色, ...
  7. Japanese:黒い, 黒, ...
  8. Arabic:أَسْوَد, أَفْرِيقِي أَسْوَد, ...
  9. Hebrew:שָׁחוֹר, הַשְּׁחוֹרָה, ...
  10. Russian:тёмный, чернота, ...
  11. Ukrainian:чорний, афроамериканець, ...
  12. Hindi:काला, अंधकार, ...
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