dark-brown

dark-brown — adjective

1. describing a color that is a deep or rich shade of brown, noticeably darker than

1.形容詞A2
釋義

describing a color that is a deep or rich shade of brown, noticeably darker than ordinary brown — used especially for hair, eyes, wood, leather, soil, or fabric.

例句

Lisa has long, dark-brown hair that she usually ties in a ponytail.

compound adjective before a noun: dark-brown + hair/eyes/body part

The old wooden desk had a dark-brown finish that shone in the afternoon light.

describing wood or furniture finish

同義詞
  • chocolate brown

    warmer and more reddish, directly associated with chocolate

  • chestnut

    reddish-brown, used especially for hair color and horse coats

  • mahogany

    reddish-brown with a glossy quality, primarily describing wood

  • espresso

    very dark brown, almost black, with cool undertones like coffee

反義詞
  • light brown

    a much paler shade of brown

  • beige

    pale brownish-gray, very light in comparison

用法筆記

Often appears before nouns describing physical features (hair, eyes, skin) or natural and manufactured materials (wood, leather, soil, fabric). Unlike 'black' or 'white,' dark-brown may or may not take a hyphen depending on position — hyphenated before a noun (a dark-brown coat), unhyphenated after a linking verb (the coat is dark brown).

常見錯誤

❌She has dark brown hair.
✅She has dark-brown hair.
💡When used as a compound adjective before a noun, 'dark-brown' is usually hyphenated to show that both words together modify the noun.
❌I prefer dark-brown over black for my handbag.
✅I prefer dark brown over black for my handbag.
💡When used as a noun referring to the color itself, no hyphen is needed.

2. describing food that has been cooked until its outer surface turns a deep golden

2.形容詞B1
釋義

describing food that has been cooked until its outer surface turns a deep golden or brown color, which often signals a desirable texture and richer flavor — for instance, bread crust, roasted meat skin, or caramelized onions.

例句

Hao pulled the loaf from the oven when the crust was perfectly dark-brown.

describing baked goods crust

Folake flipped the pancakes once the underside turned a nice dark-brown.

cooking verb + turn + dark-brown

同義詞
  • golden brown

    lighter in shade, the ideal color for baked goods like bread and pastries

  • caramelized

    specifically about sugar browning, with a sweet flavor profile

  • toasted

    dried and slightly browned by direct heat, common for bread, nuts, and seeds

反義詞
  • burnt

    overcooked to the point of blackening, producing a bitter taste

  • pale

    not cooked enough to develop browning on the surface

用法筆記

Frequently used in recipes and cooking instructions. Describes an appetizing browned exterior, not to be confused with 'burnt,' which implies a blackened, ruined result. Common with verbs like 'turn,' 'go,' 'become,' and 'get' followed by a color complement.

常見錯誤

❌The chicken skin turned dark-brown and burnt.
✅The chicken skin turned dark-brown and crispy.
💡'Dark-brown' in cooking describes a desirable result; once food turns black, it is 'burnt,' not 'dark-brown.'