brown
BROWN
Brown (adj) means having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil. Example: “The dog had soft brown eyes and a tail that never stopped wagging.”
adj
1
Having the colour of chocolate, coffee, or soil.
"The dog had soft brown eyes and a tail that never stopped wagging."
"She wore a brown leather jacket to the meeting."
"The leaves turn brown in autumn."
noun
1
The colour itself, a mix of red, yellow, and black.
"Brown is my favourite colour for boots and bags."
"Mix a little green with red and you will get a muddy brown."
"The room was painted in warm shades of brown."
verb
1
To cook food, especially meat, until its surface turns brown.
"Brown the mince in a hot pan for about five minutes."
"The chicken browned nicely in the oven while we laid the table."
"Brown the onions in butter before adding the stock."
2
To become tanned or darker in the sun.
"Her shoulders browned after a week on the beach."
"If you stay outside all day, you will brown quickly."
"His skin browned quickly during the summer holiday."
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.
Common pairings
brown bread
brown sugar
brown the meat
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Word forms
- Plural
- browns
- Third person singular
- browns
- Past tense
- browned
- Comparative
- browner, more brown
- Superlative
- brownest, most brown
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog had soft _____ eyes and a tail that never stopped wagging.
Etymology
From Old English brūn, meaning "brown" or "dark" — the same ancient root gave us "bruin", an old poetic name for a bear.
Synonyms
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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.
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