brown
Brown (adj) means having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil. Example: “She wore a brown leather jacket to the meeting.”
How to Use Brown
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe colour of earth, wood, or chocolate; also used as a verb for cooking or tanning something to that colour.
Word Forms
browner comparative, more brown comparative, browned past tense, browns plural, Browns plural, browns singular, brownest superlative, most brown superlative
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She wore a _____ leather jacket to the meeting.
Etymology
From Old English brūn, meaning "brown" or "dark" — the same ancient root gave us "bruin", an old poetic name for a bear.
Related Words
Rhymes for brown
See all rhymes for brown →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “brown” mean?
The word “brown” means having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil. In plain terms, the colour of earth, wood, or chocolate; also used as a verb for cooking or tanning something to that colour.
How do you pronounce “brown”?
“Brown” is pronounced BROWN (/ˈbɹaʊ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “brown” in a sentence?
Here is “brown” used in a sentence: “She wore a brown leather jacket to the meeting.”
What part of speech is “brown”?
Depending on how it is used, “brown” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “brown” come from?
The word “brown” comes from Old English. From Old English brūn, meaning "brown" or "dark" — the same ancient root gave us "bruin", an old poetic name for a bear.
Is “brown” a common word?
“Brown” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “brown” have?
“Brown” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil.
What colours make brown?
Brown is made by mixing colours together. The simplest method is combining all three primary colours, red, yellow and blue, in roughly equal amounts. You can also mix two complementary colours, such as orange and blue, or red and green. Adjusting the balance produces lighter or darker shades of brown.
Is brown a primary or secondary colour?
Brown is neither a primary nor a true secondary colour. Primary colours are red, yellow and blue, and secondaries like green or orange come from mixing two primaries. Brown is a composite or tertiary shade, produced by blending several colours together. It rarely appears as a band in a rainbow.
What are the shades of brown?
Brown covers a wide range of shades. Lighter tones include tan, beige and taupe, while richer ones include chestnut, chocolate, coffee and mahogany. Reddish browns such as auburn and warm golden browns like caramel also belong to the family. The shade depends on how much red, yellow or black is present.
What colours go well with brown?
Brown is a warm neutral that pairs easily with many colours. Cream, beige and white keep it soft and natural, while blue, teal and green provide fresh contrast. Warm accents like orange, gold and burgundy feel cosy alongside it. This flexibility makes brown popular in clothing and interior design.