blackout
Use Blackout in a sentence
noun
1.
the extinguishing or concealment of all visible lights in a city, military post, etc., usually as a precaution against air raids.
2.
a period during a massive power failure when the lack of electricity for illumination results in utter darkness except from emergency sources, as candles.
3.
Theater.
a.
the extinguishing of all stage lights, as in closing a vaudeville skit or separating the scenes of a play.
b.
Also called blackout skit. a skit ending in a blackout.
4.
Pathology.
a.
temporary loss of consciousness or vision: She suffered a blackout from the blow on the head.
b.
a period of total memory loss, as one induced by an accident or prolonged alcoholic drinking: The patient cannot account for the bizarre things he did during his blackout.
5.
a brief, passing lapse of memory: An actor may have an occasional blackout and forget a line or two.
6.
complete stoppage of a communications medium, as by a strike, catastrophe, electrical storm, etc.: a newspaper blackout; a radio blackout.
7.
a stoppage, suppression, or obliteration: a news blackout.
8.
a period during which a special sales offer, fare rate, or other bargain is not available: The airline's discount on fares does not apply during the Christmas week blackout.
9.
Radio and Television. a prohibition that is imposed on the broadcasting of an event and has the purpose of encouraging or ensuring ticket sales.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
|
Link To blackout
00:10
Blackout
is always a great word to know.
So is flibbertigibbet. Does it mean:
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
Collins
World English Dictionary
blackout (ˈblækaʊt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | the extinguishing or hiding of all artificial light, esp in a city visible to an enemy attack from the air |
| 2. | a momentary loss of consciousness, vision, or memory |
| 3. | a temporary electrical power failure or cut |
| 4. | electronics a temporary loss of sensitivity in a valve following a short strong pulse |
| 5. | a temporary loss of radio communications between a spacecraft and earth, esp on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere |
| 6. | the suspension of radio or television broadcasting, as by a strike or for political reasons |
| —vb | |
| 7. | (tr) to obliterate or extinguish (lights) |
| 8. | (tr) to create a blackout in (a city etc) |
| 9. | (intr) to lose vision, consciousness, or memory temporarily |
| 10. | (tr, adverb) to stop (news, a television programme) from being released or broadcast |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
blackout
1913 in the theatrical sense of a darkened stage, from black + out. Figurative sense of "loss of memory" is 1934; as a dousing of lights as an air raid precaution, it is recorded from 1935.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
blackout black·out (blāk'out')
n.
Temporary loss of consciousness due to decreased blood flow to the brain.
Temporary loss of memory.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary
blackout definition
The complete loss of electrical power in a particular area. Blackouts can result from a natural disaster, a manmade catastrophe, or simply from an excess of energy demand over supply. (Compare brownout.)
Note: Rolling blackouts to match supply and demand have become increasingly common in the United States.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The old blackout-sketch-blackout routine was replaced by a new form in which satire and current events merged before your eyes.
The blackout caused shock waves because it had not been done before by a programmer.
Trip specifics are subject to availability and blackout dates.
Some properties may have blackout dates so verify the qualifications before booking.
Matching Quote
Nearby Words
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
