blacken
verb[IorTusually passive]
uk/ˈblæk.ən/us/ˈblæk.ən/blackenverb[I or T usually passive](BECOME/MAKE BLACK)
tobecomeblackor to make somethingbecomeblack, forexamplebecause ofdirtorsmoke:
Thefoldsof thecurtainswere blackenedwithdirt.窗帘褶被尘土弄得黑乎乎的。
Thebuildingswere blackenedbyexplosions.
Copperpotsdangleover a blackenedhearth.
Theskysuddenlyblackened.
to make fire or damage with fire
- burnThe fire was still burning after 24 hours.
- burn (fuel)The car burns biofuel.
- burnShe burned his diaries to stop the information from becoming public.
- blazeBush fires blazed across the county.
- smoulderUKThe fire smouldered and soon went out.
- scorchThe sun had scorched the grass and turned it brown.
to makefoodblackon theoutsidebycookingit in a veryhotpan, usually aftercoveringit inoilorbutterandherbsorspices, or tobecomeblackin this way:
The blackenedcatfishistoppedwithmushroomsandservedoverspinach.
Mygirlfriendorderedthe blackenedprawns.
Leave thepanon a highheatso that thechickenblackens.
- Theearthalong theriverbankis blackened by thousands ofyearsofcookingfires.
- Theimagesshowlungsblackened fromcigarettesmoking.
- Thewirescaughtfireand blackened thewall.
- During thisprocessthepaprikacaramelizesand blackens.
- Wewelcomedhim with one of thebestsummermeals, a blackenedsteaksalad.
- Blackenedfishtacos: threetacosstuffedwith blackened whitefish,rice,cheese, andspicysalsa.
- I wasn'tsurehow they go about blackening thefood, so I didn'torderit.
Making things dirty & untidy
- blot
- clutter
- contaminate
- defile
- dirty
- disarrange
- mark
- mess
- messsomethingup
- mix
- muddle
- muddlesomethingup
- muddy
- muss
- pollute
- recontaminate
- soil
- sully
- tarnish
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Preparing food using heat
Cookery terms
blackenverb[I or T usually passive](SPOIL)
blackensomeone'sname/image/reputation
to make someone have abadreputation:
Thefinancialcrashblackened theimageofbankers.金融崩溃破坏了银行家的形象。