brown
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.having the colour of earth, wood, or coffee.
adj.of a colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, or orange and black.
Simple“He wore a pair of comfortable brown leather shoes for the long walk.”
In context“The autumn leaves turned a deep, rich brown before finally falling from the ancient oak trees.”
- 02 A1 Beginner
n.the colour of chocolate or soil.
n.the hue or pigment resembling the colour of wood or earth.
Simple“The artist used a lot of brown to paint the mountains in the background.”
In context“The interior designer suggested using various shades of brown to create a warm and grounded atmosphere in the study.”
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to cook food until the surface turns brown and often becomes crispy.
v.to cook food over high heat until the surface undergoes a Maillard reaction, resulting in a brown colour.
Simple“Brown the onions in a little oil before adding the other vegetables.”
In context“The recipe instructs you to brown the meat thoroughly on all sides to lock in the juices before transferring it to the slow cooker.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to make your skin darker by spending time in the sun.
v.to become or make brown, specifically referring to the darkening of skin through exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Simple“Her skin began to brown after just a few days at the beach.”
In context“After a summer spent working outdoors, his arms had browned significantly compared to his shoulders.”
From Middle English Broun, originally a nickname for someone with brown hair or a dark complexion. In the United States, sometimes an anglicization and translation of German Braun. Doublet of Bruno and Braun.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.