dark
♦♦ dark /d'ɑːrk/ (darker darkest)
1 [ADJ]
When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly, for example because it is night.
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.
≠ light
● 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 N
The dark is the lack of light in a place.
I've always been afraid of the dark.
= darkness
≠ light
3 [ADJ]
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...
≠ light
● 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.
She was wearing a dark blue dress.
≠ light
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.
Carol is a tall, dark, Latin type of woman...
≠ fair
7 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A dark period of time is unpleasant or frightening.
This was the darkest period of the war.
= black
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
A dark place or area is mysterious and not fully known about.
...the dark recesses of the mind.
9 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Dark thoughts are sad, and show that you are expecting something unpleasant to happen. (LITERARY)
Troy's chatter kept me from thinking dark thoughts.
= gloomy
10 [ADJ] 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)
...dark threats.
= sinister
● darkly [ADV] ADV with v
`Something's wrong here,' she said darkly...
11 [ADJ] 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.
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...
12
see also pitch-dark
13 [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...
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.dark age (dark ages)
also 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)
The Education Secretary accuses teachers of wanting to return to a dark age.
2 [N-PROPER] the N
The Dark Ages are the period of European history between about 500 A.D. and about 1000 A.D.dark glasses
[N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Dark glasses are glasses which have dark-coloured lenses to protect your eyes in the sunshine.
= sunglassesdark horse (dark horses)
[N-COUNT]
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.dark mat|ter
[N-UNCOUNT]
Dark matter is material that is believed to form a large part of the universe, but which has never been seen.
1 [ADJ]
When it is dark, there is not enough light to see properly, for example because it is night.
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.
≠ light
● 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 N
The dark is the lack of light in a place.
I've always been afraid of the dark.
= darkness
≠ light
3 [ADJ]
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...
≠ light
● 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.
She was wearing a dark blue dress.
≠ light
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.
Carol is a tall, dark, Latin type of woman...
≠ fair
7 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
A dark period of time is unpleasant or frightening.
This was the darkest period of the war.
= black
8 [ADJ] ADJ n
A dark place or area is mysterious and not fully known about.
...the dark recesses of the mind.
9 [ADJ] usu ADJ n
Dark thoughts are sad, and show that you are expecting something unpleasant to happen. (LITERARY)
Troy's chatter kept me from thinking dark thoughts.
= gloomy
10 [ADJ] 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)
...dark threats.
= sinister
● darkly [ADV] ADV with v
`Something's wrong here,' she said darkly...
11 [ADJ] 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.
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...
12
see also pitch-dark
13 [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...
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.dark age (dark ages)
also 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)
The Education Secretary accuses teachers of wanting to return to a dark age.
2 [N-PROPER] the N
The Dark Ages are the period of European history between about 500 A.D. and about 1000 A.D.dark glasses
[N-PLURAL] also a pair of N
Dark glasses are glasses which have dark-coloured lenses to protect your eyes in the sunshine.
= sunglassesdark horse (dark horses)
[N-COUNT]
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.dark mat|ter
[N-UNCOUNT]
Dark matter is material that is believed to form a large part of the universe, but which has never been seen.