- dark
- [[t]dɑ͟ː(r)k[/t]]
♦♦darker, darkest1) ADJ-GRADED When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly, for example because it is night.
When she awoke it was evening and already dark...
It was too dark inside to see much...
People usually draw the curtains once it gets dark...
She snapped off the light and made her way back through the dark kitchen and up the stairs.
Ant:Derived words:darkness N-UNCOUNTThe light went out, and the room was plunged into darkness.
darkly ADV ADV -edIn a darkly lit, seedy dance hall, hundreds of men lounge around small tables.
2) N-SING: the N The dark is the lack of light in a place.Her mother was sitting in the dark by the stove in her rocking chair...
I've always been afraid of the dark.
Syn:darknessAnt:3) ADJ-GRADED If you describe something as dark, you mean that it is black in colour, or a shade that is close to black.He wore a dark suit and carried a black attaché case...
The heavy dark table is inlaid with lighter wood.
Ant:Derived words:darkly ADV ADV after v, ADV adj/-edThe freckles on Joanne's face suddenly stood out darkly against her pale skin...
The tea was darkly amber, the way he liked it.
4) COMB in COLOUR When you use dark to describe a colour, you are referring to a shade of that colour which is close to black, or seems to have some black in it.She was wearing a dark blue dress.
Ant:5) ADJ-GRADED If someone has dark hair, eyes, or skin, they have brown or black hair, eyes, or skin.He had dark, curly hair...
Leo went on, his dark eyes wide with pity and concern.
6) ADJ-GRADED If you describe a white person as dark, you mean that they have brown or black hair, and often a brownish skin.Carol is a tall, dark, Latin type of woman...
The driver was very dark. Maltese, maybe.
Ant:Derived words:darkly ADV ADV adjHe was a slim, solemn, darkly handsome young man.
7) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n A dark period of time is unpleasant or frightening.Once again there's talk of very dark days ahead...
This was the darkest period of the war.
Syn:Ant:8) ADJ-GRADED: ADJ n A dark place or area is mysterious and not fully known about.The spacecraft is set to throw new light on to a dark corner of the solar system.
...the dark recesses of the mind.
9) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Dark thoughts are sad, and show that you are expecting something unpleasant to happen. [LITERARY]Troy's endless happy chatter kept me from thinking dark thoughts.
Syn:Derived words:10) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n Dark looks or remarks make you think that the person giving them wants to harm you or that something horrible is going to happen. [LITERARY]Garin shot him a dark glance, as if in warning.
...dark threats.
Syn:Derived words:darkly ADV-GRADED ADV with v`Something's wrong here,' she said darkly...
They shake their heads and mutter darkly.
11) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n If you describe something as dark, you mean that it is related to things that are serious or unpleasant, rather than light-hearted.He smiled when he talked about their dark humor that never failed to astound him and that few adults understand...
Nina took a kind of dark pleasure in being the focus of the tension between her father and her brother.
Derived words:darkly ADV-GRADED ADV adjThe atmosphere after Wednesday's debut was as darkly comic as the film itself...
Von Otter was superb both in the darkly dramatic songs, and in the lighter ones.
12) → See also pitch-dark13) PHRASE If you do something after dark, you do it when the sun has set and night has begun.They avoid going out alone after dark.
14) PHRASE If you do something before dark, you do it before the sun sets and night begins.They'll be back well before dark.
15) PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR after v, oft PHR about n If you are in the dark about something, you do not know anything about it.The investigators admit that they are completely in the dark about the killing...
I managed to keep my parents in the dark about this...
I'm as much in the dark as you.
16) PHRASE: shot inflects If you describe something someone says or does as a shot in the dark or a stab in the dark, you mean they are guessing that what they say is correct or that what they do will be successful.Every single one of those inspired guesses had been shots in the dark.
English dictionary. 2008.
