midnight
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1 12:00 at night (n.) A1 Beginnerexactly 12:00 at night, when one day ends and the next begins.
the point in time at which one day ends and the next begins, fixed at 24:00.
ExampleThe party didn't finish until after midnight, so we were very tired.
ExampleThe deadline for the scholarship application is midnight on Tuesday, so ensure your documents are uploaded before the system locks.
Usageusually used with the preposition 'at'
PitfallI will meet you at the midnight.I will meet you at midnight.Do not use 'the' before 'midnight' when referring to the specific time of day.
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2 the middle of the night (n.) B1 Intermediatethe darkest part of the night, between evening and morning.
the period of maximum darkness or the middle portion of the night, often used relationally rather than as a precise clock time.
ExampleHe woke up in the middle of the midnight and couldn't fall back asleep.
ExampleThe forest was silent in the deep midnight, with only the occasional rustle of leaves breaking the stillness.
Teacher's tipWhile sense 1 is a precise point in time, this sense refers to the general period of deep night.
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3 very dark (adj.) B2 Upper Intermediate Literarydescribing a very dark blue or black colour.
denoting a color of intense darkness, typically a very deep blue or black.
ExampleShe wore a beautiful midnight blue dress to the wedding.
ExampleThe car was painted a sleek midnight black that shimmered under the streetlights of the city.
Usageusually placed before the noun it describes
Teacher's tipCommonly found in fashion or literature to describe 'midnight blue' or 'midnight black'.
From Middle English midnight, from Old English midniht, from Proto-Germanic *midjanahts (“midnight”), equivalent to mid- + night. Cognate with Saterland Frisian Midnoacht (“midnight”), Old High German mittinaht (“midnight”), Danish midnat (“midnight”), Swedish midnatt (“midnight”), Icelandic miðnætti (“midnight”). Compare also Saterland Frisian Middernoacht (“midnight”), Dutch middernacht (“midnight”), German Mitternacht (“midnight”).