dark (darker comparative) (darkest superlative )
1 adj When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly, for example because it is night., (Antonym: light)
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.
darkness n-uncount
The light went out, and the room was plunged into darkness.
darkly adv ADV -ed
...a darkly lit, seedy dance hall.
2 n-sing The dark is the lack of light in a place.
the N
(=darkness) (Antonym: light)
I've always been afraid of the dark.
3 adj If you describe something as dark, you mean that it is black in colour, or a shade that is close to black., (Antonym: light)
He wore a dark suit and carried a black attaché case...
darkly adv ADV after v, ADV adj/-ed
Joanne's freckles stood out darkly against her pale skin...
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., (Antonym: light)
She was wearing a dark blue dress.
5 adj If someone has dark hair, eyes, or skin, they have brown or black hair, eyes, or skin.
He had dark, curly hair...
6 adj If you describe a white person as dark, you mean that they have brown or black hair, and often a brownish skin., (Antonym: fair)
Carol is a tall, dark, Latin type of woman...
7 adj A dark period of time is unpleasant or frightening.
usu ADJ n
(=black)
This was the darkest period of the war.
8 adj A dark place or area is mysterious and not fully known about.
ADJ n
...the dark recesses of the mind.
9 adj Dark thoughts are sad, and show that you are expecting something unpleasant to happen.
LITERARY usu ADJ n
(=gloomy)
Troy's chatter kept me from thinking dark thoughts.
10 adj 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 usu ADJ n
(=sinister)
...dark threats.
darkly adv ADV with v
`Something's wrong here,' she said darkly...
11 adj If you describe something as dark, you mean that it is related to things that are serious or unpleasant, rather than light-hearted.
usu ADJ n
Their dark humor never failed to astound him...
darkly adv ADV adj
The atmosphere after Wednesday's debut was as darkly comic as the film itself...
13 If you do something after dark, you do it when the sun has set and night has begun.
after dark phrase
They avoid going out alone after dark.
14 If you do something before dark, you do it before the sun sets and night begins.
before dark phrase
They'll be back well before dark.
15 If you are in the darkabout something, you do not know anything about it.
in the dark phrase v-link PHR, PHR after v, oft PHR about n
The investigators admit that they are completely in the dark about the killing...
16 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.
a shot/stab in the dark phrase shot inflects Every single one of those inspired guesses had been shots in the dark.
dark age (dark ages plural ), Dark Age
1 n-count If you refer to a period in the history of a society as a dark age, you think that it is characterized by a lack of knowledge and progress.
WRITTEN, disapproval The Education Secretary accuses teachers of wanting to return to a dark age.
2 n-proper The Dark Ages are the period of European history between about 500 A.D. and about 1000 A.D.
the N
dark glasses
Dark glasses are glasses which have dark-coloured lenses to protect your eyes in the sunshine. n-plural also a pair of N
(=sunglasses)
dark horse (dark horses plural )If you describe someone as a dark horse, you mean that people know very little about them, although they may have recently had success or may be about to have success. n-count
dark matter
Dark matter is material that is believed to form a large part of the universe, but which has never been seen. n-uncount
pitch-dark , pitch dark
Pitch-dark means the same as pitch-black. adj
(=pitch-black)
It was pitch-dark in the room and I couldn't see a thing.
