n.
Pronunciation: ' blak
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein
Date: before 12th century
1 a : of the color black b (1) : very dark in color <his face was black with rage> (2) : having a very deep or low register <a bass with a black voice> (3) : HEAVY , SERIOUS <the play was a black intrigue>
2 a : having dark skin, hair, and eyes : SWARTHY <the black Irish> b (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 Afro-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 black er jazz>
3 : dressed in black
4 : DIRTY , SOILED <hands black with grime>
5 a : 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>
6 a : thoroughly sinister or evil : WICKED <a black deed> 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>
8 a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous < black despair> b : marked by the occurrence of disaster < black Friday>
9 : characterized by hostility or angry discontent : SULLEN < black resentment filled his heart>
10 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
11 a of propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale b : characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda < black radio>
12 : characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire < black humor>
13 : of or relating to covert intelligence operations < black government programs>
– black · ish \ ' bla-kish \ adjective
– black · ly adverb
– black · ness noun