# brown

/ˈbɹaʊn/ (US) · /bɹˈaʊn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/brown
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. colour

adjective · CEFR A1

having the colour of earth, wood, or coffee.

For teachers: of a colour produced by mixing red, yellow, and black, or orange and black.

- He wore a pair of comfortable brown leather shoes for the long walk.
- The autumn leaves turned a deep, rich brown before finally falling from the ancient oak trees.

### 2. the colour itself

noun · CEFR A1

the colour of chocolate or soil.

For teachers: the hue or pigment resembling the colour of wood or earth.

- The artist used a lot of brown to paint the mountains in the background.
- The interior designer suggested using various shades of brown to create a warm and grounded atmosphere in the study.

### 3. to cook

verb · CEFR B1

to cook food until the surface turns brown and often becomes crispy.

For teachers: to cook food over high heat until the surface undergoes a Maillard reaction, resulting in a brown colour.

- Brown the onions in a little oil before adding the other vegetables.
- The recipe instructs you to brown the meat thoroughly on all sides to lock in the juices before transferring it to the slow cooker.

### 4. to tan

verb · CEFR B2

to make your skin darker by spending time in the sun.

For teachers: to become or make brown, specifically referring to the darkening of skin through exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

- Her skin began to brown after just a few days at the beach.
- After a summer spent working outdoors, his arms had browned significantly compared to his shoulders.

## Examples

- The dog has soft brown fur.
- She wore a brown leather jacket that matched the color of her boots perfectly.
- The artist used various shades of brown and ochre to capture the rugged texture of the mountain landscape during the autumn months.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.