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.
very dark color
➕
/ˈvɛri dɑːrk ˈkʌlər/
adj.
The darkest color, like coal or a moonless night.
📘 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
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
📖 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.
extremely sad
➕
/ɪkˈstriːmli sæd/
adj.
Feeling very sad, hopeless, or angry about something.
📘 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
🌱 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.
profitable
➕
/ˈprɒfɪtəbəl/
adj.
Describing a company or person that is making money, not losing it.
📘 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
Your data is saved in this browser