maroon
/mə'ru:n/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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.
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.
Adjective
- of dark brownish to purplish red
Noun
- an exploding firework used as a warning signal
- a dark purplish-red to dark brownish-red color
- a person who is stranded (as on an island)
- when the tide came in I was a maroon out there
Verb
- leave stranded on a desert island without resources
- The mutinous sailors were marooned on an island
- leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue
- the travellers were marooned