I. ˈbrau̇n adjective
( -er/-est )
Etymology: Middle English broun, from Old English brūn; akin to Old High German brūn brown, shining, Old Norse brūnn brown, Greek phrynē toad, Sanskrit babhru reddish-brown
1.
a. : dark , dusky
b. : gloomy
brown years in boarding houses — Sinclair Lewis
2. : of the color brown
brown as the oak leaves
as
a. of a person or a race of men
(1) : having skin of the color brown
little brown men
(2) : of dark complexion : tanned
b. of a kind of animal : distinguished from related kinds by brown coloration
brown bears
the gamy brown trout
3. : unbleached — used of linen, cotton cloth, or paper
4. usually capitalized
[so called from the color of the Storm Troopers' uniform]
: nazi
the madness of Brown Bolshevism — Forum
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English broun, from broun, adjective
1. : one that is brown in color or distinguished by brown coloration: as
a. : a brown-skinned person ; especially : a comparatively light-skinned black
b. slang chiefly Britain : a copper coin
c. : a flock of game birds in flight
aim at one bird; don't blaze into the brown
d.
(1) : brown bear
(2) : brown trout
(3) : brown alga
2. : any pigment or dye that colors brown
3. : any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation
4. : a coat color in horses not always distinct from dark bay or from black but identifiable by the presence of light brown or tan hair on the muzzle, legs, and usually the underline
III. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English brounen, from broun, adjective
intransitive verb
: to become brown
the roast was browning in the oven
transitive verb
1. : to make brown or dusky: as
a. : to make brown by scorching slightly (as meat or flour)
b. : to give a bright brown color to (as gun barrels) by forming a thin coat of oxide on the surface
c. : to apply the brown coat to (a wall) in plastering
2. : to shoot indiscriminately at (a flock of game birds)