of the very darkest colour owing to the absence of or complete absorption of light; the opposite of white

black smoke

her long black hair

a beautiful black dress

belonging to or denoting a human group having dark-coloured skin, especially of sub-Saharan African ancestry

the entire cast is black

he discusses the position of Black people in America

the Black community

characterized by tragic or disastrous events; causing despair or pessimism

five thousand men were killed on the blackest day of the war

the future looks black

denoting a covert military procedure

clearance for black operations came from the highest political level

(of goods or work) not to be handled or undertaken by trade union members, especially so as to express support for an industrial dispute elsewhere

the union declared the ship black

black colour or pigment

a tray decorated in black and green

a series of paintings done only in greys and blacks

a member of a human group having dark-coloured skin, especially one of sub-Saharan African ancestry

the situation of not owing money to a bank or of making a profit in a business operation

it is hoped the club will be back in the black by the end of the season

I managed to break even in the first six months—quite a short time for a small business to get into the black

an insurance company operating in the black will be able to pay for further growth

make (something) black; blacken

the house was pocked with bullet holes and blacked by smoke

refuse to handle (goods), undertake (work), or have dealings with (a person or business) as a way of taking industrial action

the union blacked the film because overtime was not being paid