black

A2 · Elementary

adj. belonging to a group of people with dark skin, especially those with African roots.

adj. relating to or denoting any of various ethnic groups having dark pigmentation of the skin, typically of African descent.

“The festival celebrated Black history and culture through music and art.”

“The seminar focused on the contributions of Black scientists to the field of theoretical physics during the twentieth century.”

A2 · Elementary Cooking

adj. served without any milk or cream.

adj. denoting coffee or tea served without the addition of milk, cream, or dairy substitutes.

日本語:ブラック※

“I prefer my coffee black because I like the strong taste.”

“He ordered a black coffee to stay alert during the long overnight flight to Tokyo.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Politics

adj. secret, hidden, or against the law.

adj. relating to clandestine operations or illegitimate trade; often used in political or military contexts.

“The government was accused of running a black market for fuel.”

“The agency's black operations remained classified for decades until a whistleblower leaked the documents to the press.”

B1 · Intermediate

adj. very sad, unlucky, or showing bad intentions.

adj. characterized by tragedy, misfortune, or malicious intent; often used metaphorically.

“It was a black day for the company when the factory closed.”

“The play is a black comedy that finds humor in very dark and painful situations.”

A1 · Beginner Uncountable noun

n. the color of coal or the night sky.

n. the visual sensation or pigment that reflects no light.

“The cat disappeared into the black of the night.”

“The designer chose to use black as the primary color for the luxury brand's logo to convey elegance.”

B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun

n. clothes that are the color black, often worn for formal events or funerals.

n. black clothing, specifically when worn as a sign of mourning or for formal attire.

“Everyone at the funeral was dressed in black.”

“She arrived at the gala dressed entirely in black, standing out against the colorful decorations of the ballroom.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate

v. to make something black or dark.

v. to make something black; to apply a black substance to a surface.

“He had to black his boots before the parade.”

“The smoke from the fire began to black the ceiling of the old kitchen.”