black
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
How often you will meet it
Rank 321 of 71,295 words measured. It occurs 63,167 times across 175,112 chapters — 0.030% of every word in the library.
It belongs to the first 500 words, the band worth learning before any other.
What it means
adjective
- being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light black leather jacketsas black as coal
- of or belonging to a racial group especially of sub-Saharan African origin a great people--a black people--...injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization
- marked by anger or resentment or hostility black looksblack words
- offering little or no hope also: bleak, dim the future looked blackprospects were bleak
- stemming from evil characteristics or forces; wicked or dishonorable also: dark, sinister black deedsa black lie
- (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin also: calamitous, disastrous, fatal, fateful the stock market crashed on Black Fridaya calamitous defeat
black in real books
Each sentence below was written by a published author and is taken from a different book in our library. Open one to read the passage it came from, with narration.
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He raised his head and looked up the shimmering black face of his find.
The Heart of the Hills · John, Jr. Fox · Chapter 1
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He’s got a great black beard, and wears patent leather boots in all weathers!
The Mysterious Affair at Styles · Agatha Christie · Chapter 1
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Everybody came to buy corn at the farm, and went away pouring maledictions on the Black Brothers.
Famous Stories Every Child Should Know · Hamilton Wright [Editor] Mabie · Chapter 1
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Black clouds were driven furiously across the sky, torrents of rain and spray beat every now and then upon the window.
The Betrayal · E. Phillips (Edward Phillips) Oppenheim · Chapter 1
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If I ever got time, I could black it, or ink it, or something, but I never shall get the time.
Gloria and Treeless Street · Annie Hamilton Donnell · Chapter 1