blacken
/'blækən/
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To make something black or dark in color: The primary meaning refers to the physical act of causing something to become black, often through burning, staining, or coating.
- To defame or slander someone; to tarnish a reputation: A figurative meaning where "blacken" means to speak maliciously of someone, damaging their character.
Verb (intransitive):
- To become black or dark in color: Refers to the process of something turning black by itself, often due to burning, oxidation, or exposure to elements.
Examples of Usage
- Verb (transitive):
- The chef blackened the fish with a special spice rub before grilling it.
- The scandal blackened the company's previously spotless reputation.
- Verb (intransitive):
- The sky blackened as the storm approached.
- The silver frame had blackened with tarnish over the years.
Advanced Usage
- "to blacken someone's name/character": To deliberately say things that damage someone's reputation.
- The article was an attempt to blacken the mayor's name before the election.
Variants and Related Words
- Blackening (noun): The process or result of making something black.
- The blackening of the metal was caused by intense heat.
- Black (adj/verb/noun): The base color; to boycott or refuse to handle goods.
- Blackened (adj): Describing something that has been made black, especially as a cooking style.
- I ordered blackened salmon.
Synonyms
- Darken: To make or become dark or darker.
- Char: To burn the surface of something so that it becomes black.
- Scorch: To burn the surface of something with slight burning, often changing its color.
- Defame / Slander / Vilify: To damage the good reputation of someone (for the figurative sense).
Related Phrasal Verbs
(Note: "Blacken" does not commonly form phrasal verbs. Its meanings are typically expressed directly.)
Related Idioms
- To blacken someone's eye: Literally, to cause bruising around someone's eye by hitting them. Figuratively, it can mean to harm someone's standing.
- He threatened to blacken my eye if I didn't leave. (literal)
- The bad review blackened the restaurant's eye in the local food scene. (figurative)
Verb
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burn slightly and superficially so as to affect color
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The cook blackened the chicken breast
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The fire charred the ceiling above the mantelpiece
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the flames scorched the ceiling
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make or become black
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The smoke blackened the ceiling
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The ceiling blackened
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