black

Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).

Synonyms: slack, block, back, clack, blick, blank, flack, bleck, brack, lack, alack

Antonyms: slack, block, back, clack, blick, blank, flack, bleck, brack, lack, alack

Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.

Adjective

1. {{senseid|en|colorless}}{{lb|en|of an object}} [[absorb|Absorbing]] all [[light]] and [[reflect]]ing none; [[dark]] and [[hue]]less.
2. {{lb|en|of a location or setting}} Without [[light]].
3. {{senseid|en|skin color}} {{lb|en|sometimes|capitalized}} [[belong|Belonging]] to or [[descend]]ed from any of various ([[African]], [[Aboriginal]], etc.) [[ethnic group]]s which [[typically]] have [[dark]] [[pigmentation]] of the [[skin]]. {{q|See usage notes below.}}
4. {{lb|en|chiefly|historical}} [[designate|Designated]] for use by those ethnic groups (as described above).
5. {{lb|en|card games|of a card}} Of the [[spades]] or [[clubs]] [[suit]]s.
6. {{cap|bad}}; [[evil]]; [[ill-omened]].
7. [[express|Expressing]] [[menace]] or [[discontent]]; [[threatening]]; [[sullen]].
8. {{lb|en|of objects or markets}} [[illegitimate|Illegitimate]], [[illegal]]{{,}} or [[disgrace]]d.
9. {{cap|foul}}; [[dirty]], [[soiled]].
10. {{lb|en|Ireland|informal}} {{cap|overcrowded}}.<ref>{{R:GDoS|id=yao742q|pos=adj}}</ref>
11. {{senseid|en|coffee}} {{lb|en|of [[coffee]] or [[tea]]}} Without any [[cream]], [[milk]]{{,}} or [[creamer]].
12. {{lb|en|board games|chess}} Of or relating to the [[play]]ing [[piece]]s of a [[board game]] [[deem]]ed to [[belong]] to the "black" [[set]] (in [[chess]], the set used by the [[player]] who [[move]]s [[second]]) {{qualifier|often regardless of the pieces' actual colour}}.

Noun

1. {{lb|en|countable|and|uncountable}} The colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed.
2. {{lb|en|countable|and|uncountable}} A black [[dye]] or [[pigment]].
3. {{lb|en|countable}} A pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of black pigment.
4. {{lb|en|in the plural}} Black [[cloth]] hung up at [[funeral]]s.
5. {{senseid|en|ethnic}} {{lb|en|countable|sometimes capitalised|often|offensive}} A member or descendant of any of various ([[African]], [[Aboriginal]], etc) ethnic groups which typically have dark [[pigmentation]] of the skin.
6. {{lb|en|uncountable|informal}} [[blackness|Blackness]], the condition of belonging to or being descended from one of these ethnic groups.
7. {{lb|en|countable|billiards|snooker|pool}} The black ball.
8. {{lb|en|countable|baseball}} The edge of [[home plate]].
9. {{lb|en|countable|British}} A type of [[firecracker]] that is really more dark [[brown]] in colour.
10. {{lb|en|informal|chiefly|UK|mostly|uncountable}} {{U|blackcurrant}} [[syrup]] or [[crème de cassis]] used for [[cocktail]]s.
11. {{lb|en|countable|chess}} The person playing with the black set of pieces.
12. {{lb|en|countable}} Something, or a part of a thing, which is black.

Verb

1. {{lb|en|transitive}} To make [[#Adjective|black]]; to [[blacken]].
2. {{lb|en|transitive}} To apply [[blacking]] to (something).
3. {{lb|en|British|transitive}} To [[boycott]], usually as part of an industrial dispute.

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.