Brown: Meaning, Examples, and Common Collocations

Meaning 1：the color brown (brown)

brown 🔊

/braʊn/

adj., n., v.

The color of coffee, chocolate, wood, or soil. It is a mix of red and yellow, and is a warm, common color.

the color brown 🔊

➕

/ðə ˈkʌlər braʊn/

adj., n., v.

A composite color made by mixing red, yellow, and black; the color of coffee, chocolate, wood, or soil.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📖 Root Explanation

From Old English brūn, from Proto-Germanic *brūnaz; related to Dutch bruin and German braun.

💡 Mnemonic

Picture a brown bear sipping hot chocolate from a brown mug on a brown wooden table.

📖 Example

Her brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she smiled. 🔊 Her brown eyes sparkled in the sunlight as she smiled.

🔗 Collocations

brown hair – Hair of a brown color.

brown sugar – Sugar that has a brown color due to molasses content.

brown bear – A large bear species with brown fur.

🔄 Synonyms

tan (adj., n.) – A pale brown color, often associated with skin or leather.

chestnut (adj., n.) – A rich reddish-brown color, like the nut of a chestnut tree.

umber (adj., n.) – A dark brown color derived from natural earth pigment.

🚫 Antonyms

white (adj., n.) – A light color that is opposite to brown in terms of darkness.

🌱 Derivatives

brownish (adj.) – Slightly brown in color.

brownness (n.) – The quality of being brown.

brownie (n.) – A small, rich chocolate cake; also a mythical creature.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'brown' comes from Old English 'brūn', meaning dark or shiny. It shares a root with 'beaver', whose brown fur gave the animal its name.