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