Reading Theme:

Black: Meaning, Examples, and Common Phrases (3 meaning)

Meaning 1:very dark color (black)

black 🔊
/blæk/
adj.
having the darkest color, like coal or the night sky without light.
Black color objects
very dark color 🔊
/ˈvɛri dɑːrk ˈkʌlər/
adj.
The darkest color, like coal or a moonless night.
📁 Category:Objects & Materials 🔖 Level:Beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'blæc', meaning dark, related to fire and burning.
💡 Mnemonic
Imagine black as the absence of all colors, like a cave with no light.
📖 Example
She prefers to wear a black T-shirt and jeans for a casual look. 🔊 She prefers to wear a black T-shirt and jeans for a casual look.
🔗 Collocations
black coffee – coffee served without milk or cream
black suit – a formal dark-colored suit
🔄 Synonyms
dark (adj.) – having little or no light
ebony (adj.) – a deep black color, like the wood of the ebony tree
🚫 Antonyms
white (adj.) – the lightest color, like snow or milk
light (adj.) – pale in color, not dark
🌱 Derivatives
blackness (n.) – the quality of being black or very dark
blacken (v.) – to make or become black
blackish (adj.) – somewhat black
📖 Cultural Story
In ancient Egypt, black symbolized fertility. 'In the black' originates from accounting where black ink indicates profit.

Meaning 2:extremely sad (black)

black 🔊
/blæk/
adj.
feeling very sad, hopeless, or angry about something.
Black sadness person
extremely sad 🔊
/ɪkˈstriːmli sæd/
adj.
Feeling very sad, hopeless, or angry about something.
📁 Category:Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level:Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
After failing the important exam, he was in a black mood for the entire week. 🔊 After failing the important exam, he was in a black mood for the entire week.
🔗 Collocations
black mood – a period of deep sadness or depression
black humor – humor that deals with serious or grim topics in a comedic way
🔄 Synonyms
gloomy (adj.) – feeling or causing sadness or depression
morose (adj.) – sullen and ill-tempered; gloomy
despondent (adj.) – in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
🚫 Antonyms
cheerful (adj.) – noticeably happy and optimistic
joyful (adj.) – feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness
🌱 Derivatives
blackly (adv.) – in a gloomy or sinister manner

Meaning 3:profitable (black)

black 🔊
/blæk/
adj.
describing a company or person that is making money, not losing it.
Black profit graph
profitable 🔊
/ˈprɒfɪtəbəl/
adj.
Describing a company or person that is making money, not losing it.
📁 Category:Social Economy 🔖 Level:Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example
Thanks to the new product's success, the company's accounts are finally in the black this year. 🔊 Thanks to the new product's success, the company's accounts are finally in the black this year.
🔗 Collocations
in the black – operating profitably; showing a financial surplus
black ink – profit or positive financial figures in accounting
🔄 Synonyms
profitable (adj.) – yielding profit or financial gain
solvent (adj.) – having enough money to pay debts; not in debt
🚫 Antonyms
in the red (adj. phrase) – operating at a loss; in debt
loss-making (adj.) – not making a profit; incurring losses
Wordbook
Font Color:
Background Color:
Your data is saved in this browser