blacken

/ˈblækən/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈblækən/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈbla-kən/ (ame, mw)

blacken — verb

1. to turn something so dark that it looks black, or to change to that colour.

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to turn something so dark that it looks black, or to change to that colour.

例句

Smoke from the fire blackened the kitchen ceiling above the stove.

blacken + surface changed by smoke

Years of rain blackened the stone steps outside the church.

同義詞
  • darken

    broader and weaker; something can darken without becoming nearly black

  • stain

    focuses on leaving a mark, often from liquid or dirt, rather than the final dark colour

  • char

    usually involves strong heat that burns the surface

反義詞
  • lighten

    make something less dark

  • clean

    used when dirt or smoke is what made the surface black

文法句型

blacken something

something blackens

用法筆記

Often used for walls, metal, skin, or other surfaces changed by smoke, dirt, age, or fire. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about a general colour change, not a cooking method.

2. to cook food over strong heat until the surface turns very dark and slightly bur

2.動詞及物 / 不及物C1
釋義

to cook food over strong heat until the surface turns very dark and slightly burned, or to turn that way while cooking.

例句

The cook blackened the fish in a hot iron pan.

blacken + food in a hot pan

Butter and spices blackened the chicken skin within two minutes.

同義詞
  • char

    stronger; often suggests more burning and less control

  • sear

    means cooking the surface quickly over high heat, but it does not always turn black

  • burn

    broader and often negative; blacken can describe a deliberate style of cooking

文法句型

blacken food

food blackens in a hot pan

用法筆記

Usually used for solid foods such as fish, chicken, corn, or peppers, especially in a very hot pan or on a grill. Distinguish from sense 1: the dark surface here comes from cooking, often on purpose.

常見錯誤

❌I blackened the sauce by cooking it too long.
✅I burned the sauce by cooking it too long.
💡this cooking sense usually describes the outside of solid food, not a liquid sauce.

3. to damage a person's good name by making other people think badly of them.

3.動詞及物C1
釋義

to damage a person's good name by making other people think badly of them.

例句

The false story blackened the teacher's name across the whole town.

blacken + someone's name

Rival papers tried to blacken the mayor before the election.

同義詞
  • defame

    more formal and often used in legal contexts

  • smear

    more informal and strongly suggests a planned attack

  • tarnish

    broader; can mean causing weaker, slower damage to an image

反義詞
  • clear

    show that accusations are not true

  • praise

    speak well of someone instead of damaging their image

文法句型

blacken someone's name

blacken someone's reputation

用法筆記

Object is usually a person's name, image, or reputation, or that of a group or business. Common when the speaker suggests unfair attacks or damaging stories, unlike neutral criticism.

常見錯誤

❌The article criticized the actor's late arrival and blackened him.
✅The article criticized the actor's late arrival and damaged his reputation.
💡'blacken' means harming someone's public image, not simply mentioning one fault.