/ ˈdɑːknəs; NAmE ˈdɑːrk-/ noun [ U ]
1.
the state of being dark, without any light :
After a few minutes our eyes got used to the darkness.
The house was plunged into total darkness when the electricity was cut off.
The sun went down and darkness fell (= it became night) .
There is an extra hour of darkness on winter mornings.
Parking is not allowed during the hours of darkness .
Her face was in darkness .
They managed to escape under cover of darkness .
2.
the quality or state of being dark in colour :
It depends on the darkness of your skin.
3.
( literary ) evil :
the forces of darkness