Main Entry: black
Pronunciation: \ˈblak\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English blak, from Old English blæc; akin to Old High German blah black, and probably to Latin flagrare to burn, Greek phlegein
Date: before 12th century
1 a : of the color black b (1) : very dark in color (his face was black with rage) (2) : having a very deep or low register (a bass with a black voice) (3) : heavy, serious (the play was a black intrigue)
2 a : having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy (the black Irish) b (1) often capitalized : of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin (black Americans) (2) : of or relating to the African-American people or their culture (black literature) (a black college) (black pride) (black studies) (3) : typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture (trying to sound black) (tried to play blacker jazz)
3 : dressed in black
4 : dirty, soiled (hands black with grime)
5 a : characterized by the absence of light (a black night) b : reflecting or transmitting little or no light (black water) c : served without milk or cream (black coffee)
6 a : thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked (a black deed) b : indicative of condemnation or discredit (got a black mark for being late)
7 : connected with or invoking the supernatural and especially the devil (black magic)
8 a : very sad, gloomy, or calamitous (black despair) b : marked by the occurrence of disaster (black Friday)
9 : characterized by hostility or angry discontent : sullen (black resentment filled his heart)
10 chiefly British : subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union
11 a of propaganda : conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale b : characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda (black radio)
12 : characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire (black humor)
13 : of or relating to covert intelligence operations (black government programs)
