maroon

/mə'ru:n/
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maroon

The hiker wore a maroon backpack on the trail.

Definition
  1. Adjective:

    • Of a dark brownish-red to purplish-red color: Describes a specific, deep red-brown hue, often associated with certain fabrics, paints, or natural objects.
  2. Noun:

    • A dark purplish-red to dark brownish-red color: The name of the color itself.
    • An exploding firework used as a warning signal: A type of pyrotechnic device that produces a loud bang and a bright flash, historically used for signaling, especially in maritime contexts.
    • A person who is stranded, especially on a deserted island: Someone who has been abandoned or left isolated in a remote place with little hope of rescue.
  3. Verb:

    • To leave someone stranded and isolated in a remote place, especially on a deserted island, without resources: The act of abandoning someone in such a situation.
    • To be left in a state of helpless isolation: To be stranded or cut off, often with a sense of being trapped.
Usage Examples
  • Adjective:

    • She wore a beautiful maroon dress to the party.
    • The university's official colors are maroon and white.
  • Noun (Color):

    • The artist mixed red and brown to create a deep maroon.
  • Noun (Firework):

    • The ship fired a maroon to signal distress.
  • Noun (Person):

    • After the shipwreck, he became a maroon on the tiny island.
  • Verb:

    • The pirates threatened to maroon the disobedient sailor on the next uninhabited island.
    • The hikers were marooned by the sudden flood that washed away the bridge.
Advanced Usage
  • "to be marooned": This passive form is very common and emphasizes the state of being stranded.
    • The research team was marooned at the base camp for a week due to the blizzard.
  • The term can be used metaphorically to describe feelings of social or emotional isolation.
    • After moving to a new city where she knew no one, she felt utterly marooned.
Variants and Related Words
  • Marooning (n): The act of abandoning someone on a deserted island.
    • Marooning was a feared punishment among sailors.
  • Marooned (adj): Describing the state of being stranded.
    • The marooned passengers waited anxiously for help.
Synonyms
  • Adjective (Color): Burgundy, claret, oxblood.
  • Verb (Abandon): Strand, abandon, desert, isolate.
Phrasal Verbs

(This word does not commonly form phrasal verbs.)

Related Idioms
  • "To be left high and dry": This idiom shares a similar meaning with being marooned, implying abandonment in a difficult situation.
    • When the company went bankrupt, the employees were left high and dry.
maroon

The hiker wore a maroon backpack on the trail.

Adjective
  1. of dark brownish to purplish red
Noun
  1. an exploding firework used as a warning signal
  2. a dark purplish-red to dark brownish-red color
  3. a person who is stranded (as on an island)
    • when the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Verb
  1. leave stranded on a desert island without resources
    • The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
  2. leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue
    • the travellers were marooned