English Explanatory Dictionary

blackout

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A temporary loss of consciousness.
  2. A temporary loss of memory.
  3. A large-scale power failure, and resulting loss of electricity to consumers.
  4. An instance of censorship, especially a temporary one.
  5. An intentional outage of a website or other online service, typically as a form of protest.
  6. The mandatory blocking of all light emanating from buildings, as well as outdoor and street lighting as a measure against aerial bombing or naval attack, as imposed during, e.g., World War II.
  7. The blocking out of as much light as possible.
  8. A mass murder committed, usually in an urban area, to eliminate potential witnesses of a previous crime.
verb
  1. Alternative form of black out.

Pronunciation

/ˈblæk.aʊt/ /ˈblæk.ʌʊt/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-blackout.wav

Word forms

blackout blackouts black-out blackouting blackouted

Etymology

Deverbal from black out.

Synonyms

blankout faint syncope power cut outage

Related words

whiteout

Derived words

blackout bag blackout bomb blackout cake blackout curtain blackout date blackout gag blackout lamp blackout poem blackout poetry blackouts blackout skit Brooklyn blackout cake brownout brown out rolling blackout
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