nounπShareThe colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed."The deep blacks of the night sky made it impossible to see the path ahead. "colorphysicsChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA black dye or pigment."The artist mixed several blacks to achieve the perfect shade for the night sky in her painting. "colorsubstancematerialChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA pen, pencil, crayon, etc., made of black pigment."The child only wanted to draw with the blacks in the crayon box. "stationerywritingcolorChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShare(in the plural) Black cloth hung up at funerals."After the president died, blacks draped the government buildings as a sign of mourning. "ritualtraditionwearChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShare(sometimes capitalised) A person of African, Aborigine, or Maori descent; a dark-skinned person."Many history books discuss the challenges blacks faced during the Civil Rights Movement. "racepersongroupChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareBlackness, the condition of having dark skin."The blacks of the night sky made it difficult to see the stars. "raceappearancepersongroupChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareThe black ball."In the game of pool, you must pocket all the striped and solid balls before attempting to pocket the blacks, which determines the winner. "sportcolorChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareThe edge of home plate."The batter argued that the pitch hit the blacks of home plate, so it should have been called a strike. "sportgameChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA type of firecracker that is really more dark brown in colour."My little brother loves to set off blacks on the Fourth of July, even though they're not as loud as the bigger fireworks. "weaponmaterialtypeChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareBlackcurrant syrup (in mixed drinks, e.g. snakebite and black, cider and black)."At the pub, he ordered a pint of cider and blacks. "drinkfoodChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShare(in chess and similar games) The person playing with the black set of pieces."At this point black makes a disastrous move."gamepersonChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareSomething, or a part of a thing, which is black."Example Sentence: "The painting had a lot of blacks in it, especially in the shadows of the trees." "colorappearanceChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA stain; a spot."The accident with the pen left several blacks on the white tablecloth. "appearancemarkChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
nounπShareA dark smut fungus, harmful to wheat."The farmer worried when he saw blacks on his wheat crop, knowing the fungus could ruin the harvest. "agricultureplantdiseasebiologyChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo make black; to blacken."He blacks his shoes every morning before going to work. "appearancecolorChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo apply blacking to (something)."He blacks his shoes every morning before going to work to keep them looking professional. "appearancestyleChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading
verbπShareTo boycott, usually as part of an industrial dispute."The union decided to black all overtime work until management agreed to negotiate. "businesseconomyjobindustryworkChat with AIVocabulary GamePractice Reading