adj., n., & v.
adj. 1 having the colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, as of dark wood or rich soil. 2 dark-skinned or suntanned. 3 (of bread) made from a dark flour as wholemeal or wheatmeal. 4 (of species or varieties) distinguished by brown coloration.
n. 1 a brown colour or pigment. 2 brown clothes or material (dressed in brown). 3 (in a game or sport) a brown ball, piece, etc. 4 (prec. by the) Brit. a brown mass of flying game-birds.
v.tr. & intr. make or become brown by cooking, sunburn, etc. brown ale a dark, mild, bottled beer. brown bear a large n. American brown bear, Ursus arctos. brown coal = LIGNITE. browned off Brit. sl. fed up, disheartened. brown fat a dark-coloured adipose tissue with a rich supply of blood vessels. brown holland see HOLLAND. brown owl 1 any of various owls, esp. the tawny owl. 2 (Brown Owl) an adult leader of a Brownie Guides pack. brown rice unpolished rice with only the husk of the grain removed. Brown-shirt a Nazi; a member of a fascist organization. brown sugar unrefined or partially refined sugar. in a brown study see STUDY. brownish adj. brownness n. browny adj.
[ OE brun f. Gmc ]