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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.

Search results for 'black':

black adj (blacker, blackest) 1 having the darkest colour, the same colour as coal; reflecting no light. 2 without any light; totally dark. 3 (now usually Black) used of people: dark-skinned, especially of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 (usually Black) belonging or relating to Black people. 5 said of coffee or tea: without added milk. 6 angry; threatening • black looks. 7 dirty; soiled • came in from the garden with his hands black. 8 sad, gloomy or depressed; dismal • a black mood. 9 promising trouble; likely to be bad in some way • The future looks black. 10 wicked or sinister; grim or macabre • black-heartedblack comedy. 11 said of goods, etc: not allowed by a trade union to be handled, especially during a strike. 12 said of income, etc: not reported in tax returns; illicit. noun 1 the colour of coal, etc, the darkest colour, or absence of colour. 2 anything which is black in colour, eg a black chess piece. 3 (usually Black) a dark-skinned person, especially one of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 black clothes worn when in mourning. 5 a black pigment or dye. 6 (usually be in the black) the credit side of an account; the state of not being in debt, eg to a bank Compare red noun 6. verb (blacked, blacking) 1 (also blacken) to make something black • The men blacked their faces with soot. 2 to clean (shoes, etc) with black polish. 3 said of a trade union: to forbid work to be done on or with (certain goods). blackly adverb in an angry or threatening way. blackness noun. black in the face purple in the face, due to exertion, anger, strangulation, etc. in black and white 1 in writing or in print. 2 having or using no colours, only black and white. in someone's black books in trouble or disgrace, or out of favour with them
ETYMOLOGY: From the 16c; a black book was one in which the names of people deserving punishment were recorded. in the black in credit; solvent; out of debt
ETYMOLOGY: From the bookkeeping practice of writing in black ink on the credit side of a ledger.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon blæc.

black out said of a person: to lose consciousness.

black something out 1 to deprive it of light; to extinguish or cover (lights), or all lights in (a place). 2 to prevent (information) from being broadcast or published; to suppress (news, etc).

black adj (blacker, blackest) 1 having the darkest colour, the same colour as coal; reflecting no light. 2 without any light; totally dark. 3 (now usually Black) used of people: dark-skinned, especially of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 (usually Black) belonging or relating to Black people. 5 said of coffee or tea: without added milk. 6 angry; threatening • black looks. 7 dirty; soiled • came in from the garden with his hands black. 8 sad, gloomy or depressed; dismal • a black mood. 9 promising trouble; likely to be bad in some way • The future looks black. 10 wicked or sinister; grim or macabre • black-heartedblack comedy. 11 said of goods, etc: not allowed by a trade union to be handled, especially during a strike. 12 said of income, etc: not reported in tax returns; illicit. noun 1 the colour of coal, etc, the darkest colour, or absence of colour. 2 anything which is black in colour, eg a black chess piece. 3 (usually Black) a dark-skinned person, especially one of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 black clothes worn when in mourning. 5 a black pigment or dye. 6 (usually be in the black) the credit side of an account; the state of not being in debt, eg to a bank Compare red noun 6. verb (blacked, blacking) 1 (also blacken) to make something black • The men blacked their faces with soot. 2 to clean (shoes, etc) with black polish. 3 said of a trade union: to forbid work to be done on or with (certain goods). blackly adverb in an angry or threatening way. blackness noun. black in the face purple in the face, due to exertion, anger, strangulation, etc. in black and white 1 in writing or in print. 2 having or using no colours, only black and white. in someone's black books in trouble or disgrace, or out of favour with them
ETYMOLOGY: From the 16c; a black book was one in which the names of people deserving punishment were recorded. in the black in credit; solvent; out of debt
ETYMOLOGY: From the bookkeeping practice of writing in black ink on the credit side of a ledger.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon blæc.

black out said of a person: to lose consciousness.

black something out 1 to deprive it of light; to extinguish or cover (lights), or all lights in (a place). 2 to prevent (information) from being broadcast or published; to suppress (news, etc).

black adj (blacker, blackest) 1 having the darkest colour, the same colour as coal; reflecting no light. 2 without any light; totally dark. 3 (now usually Black) used of people: dark-skinned, especially of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 (usually Black) belonging or relating to Black people. 5 said of coffee or tea: without added milk. 6 angry; threatening • black looks. 7 dirty; soiled • came in from the garden with his hands black. 8 sad, gloomy or depressed; dismal • a black mood. 9 promising trouble; likely to be bad in some way • The future looks black. 10 wicked or sinister; grim or macabre • black-heartedblack comedy. 11 said of goods, etc: not allowed by a trade union to be handled, especially during a strike. 12 said of income, etc: not reported in tax returns; illicit. noun 1 the colour of coal, etc, the darkest colour, or absence of colour. 2 anything which is black in colour, eg a black chess piece. 3 (usually Black) a dark-skinned person, especially one of African, West Indian or Australian Aboriginal origin. 4 black clothes worn when in mourning. 5 a black pigment or dye. 6 (usually be in the black) the credit side of an account; the state of not being in debt, eg to a bank Compare red noun 6. verb (blacked, blacking) 1 (also blacken) to make something black • The men blacked their faces with soot. 2 to clean (shoes, etc) with black polish. 3 said of a trade union: to forbid work to be done on or with (certain goods). blackly adverb in an angry or threatening way. blackness noun. black in the face purple in the face, due to exertion, anger, strangulation, etc. in black and white 1 in writing or in print. 2 having or using no colours, only black and white. in someone's black books in trouble or disgrace, or out of favour with them
ETYMOLOGY: From the 16c; a black book was one in which the names of people deserving punishment were recorded. in the black in credit; solvent; out of debt
ETYMOLOGY: From the bookkeeping practice of writing in black ink on the credit side of a ledger.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon blæc.

black out said of a person: to lose consciousness.

black something out 1 to deprive it of light; to extinguish or cover (lights), or all lights in (a place). 2 to prevent (information) from being broadcast or published; to suppress (news, etc).