Word
blackboard
Phoneticsblack·board, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɫækˌbɔɹd/
UK/blˈækbɔːd/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a large, dark board used in classrooms for writing on with chalk. Teachers use it to show lessons to the whole class.
n. a large, smooth, dark surface, typically made of slate or wood, used in educational settings for writing or drawing with chalk.
Examples
“The teacher wrote the homework on the blackboard.”
“After the lecture, the student stayed behind to copy the complex diagrams from the blackboard into her notebook.”
“While many modern classrooms have transitioned to digital displays, the traditional blackboard remains a symbol of academic instruction and manual calculation in many parts of the world.”
Examples
simple
“The teacher wrote the homework on the blackboard.”
contextual
“After the lecture, the student stayed behind to copy the complex diagrams from the blackboard into her notebook.”
complex
“While many modern classrooms have transitioned to digital displays, the traditional blackboard remains a symbol of academic instruction and manual calculation in many parts of the world.”
Usage
Often used as a compound noun; increasingly replaced by 'whiteboard' or 'smartboard' in modern contexts.
Etymology
From black + board, because such surfaces were once typically made of black slate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/blackboard