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How to pronounce black
Say it like this: /blæk/. Listen to real recordings below and compare how it sounds in different accents.
What does black mean?
adjAbsorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless.
“The items around him were black in colour.”
Without light.
Belonging to or descended from any of various (African, Aboriginal, etc.) ethnic groups which typically have dark pigmentation of the skin. (See usage notes below.)
“Somebody tell me, what can I do / Something is holding me back / Is it because I'm black?”
nounThe colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed.
“Black is the badge of hell, / The hue of dungeons, and the suit of night.”
A black dye or pigment.
A pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of black pigment.
verbTo make black; to blacken.
“I saw red, and instead of a cab I fetched that policeman. Of course father did black his eye.”
To apply blacking to (something).
“But in a moment he went to Greenidge's bedside, and said, shyly, in a low voice, "Shall I black your boots for you?"”
To boycott, usually as part of an industrial dispute.
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Pronunciations and meanings from Wiktionary via kaikki.org, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Recordings by Wikimedia Commons contributors. This page is shared under the same license.