brown

1 of 3

adjective

ˈbrau̇n 

1

a

: having the color of wood or chocolate

especially : of the color brown (see brown entry 2 sense 1)

a brown cow

brown eyes and hair

as brown as the oak leaves

b

: having dark or tanned skin

Their hands and faces were brown from long days in the sun.

2

or less commonly Brown : of or relating to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin

Black and brown Americans

brown

2 of 3

noun

plural browns

1

: any of a group of colors between red and yellow in hue, of medium to low lightness, and of moderate to low saturation

2

browns or less commonly Browns plural : people belonging to any of various population groups considered as having medium pigmentation of the skin

Note: The plural noun browns is used mostly in phrases referring to multiple population groups.

3

: brown trout

brownish

ˈbrau̇-nish 

adjective

browny

ˈbrau̇-nē 

adjective

brown

3 of 3

verb

browned; browning; browns

intransitive verb

: to become brown

transitive verb

: to make brown

Examples of brown in a Sentence

Adjective

workers whose backs are brown from long hours in the sun

Noun

The room was decorated in brown.

a mix of browns and reds

Verb

Brown the chicken in a pan with butter.

Her skin was browned by the sun.

The chicken is browning in the oven.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The mega coral is mostly brown, but has some splashes of bright reds, yellows, and blues. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024

Contrary to the name, those bears can sometimes be brown. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024

Noun

Sunny, a long-haired brown and white bunny, was found just outside the pen, while Ruby, a long-haired gray bunny, was inside. —Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024

Half-and-half and salted butter: Egg yolk: Helps the topping brown nicely in the oven. —Elizabeth Nelson, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2024

Verb

Add brisket and cook until well browned on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. —Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 23 Oct. 2024

When Trump selected Vance as his running mate in July 2024, Vance also dyed his gray hair to brown to possibly appear more youthful. —Therèsa M. Winge, The Conversation, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English broun, from Old English brūn; akin to Old High German brūn brown, Greek phrynē toad

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing brown

• big brown bat
• brown alga
• brown bagging
• brown bear
• brown Betty
• brown bread
• brown coal
• brown dog tick
• brown dwarf
• brown earth
• brown-eyed Susan
• brown fat
• brown-headed cowbird
• brown lung
• brown pelican
• brown rat
• brown recluse spider
• brown rice
• brown rot
• brown sauce
• brown study
• brown sugar
• brown-tail moth
• brown tree snake
• brown trout
• golden-brown alga
• little brown bat
• nut-brown
• Vandyke brown

Kids Definition

brown

1 of 3 adjective

ˈbrau̇n 

1

: of the color brown

2

: of dark or tanned complexion

3

: of or relating to any of various population groups considered to have medium skin color

brown

2 of 3 noun

: a color like that of coffee or chocolate that is a blend of red and yellow darkened by black

brownish

ˈbrau̇-nish 

adjective

brown

3 of 3 verb

: to make or become brown

Biographical Definition

Brown 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

ˈbrau̇n 

Charles Brockden 1771–1810 American novelist

Brown

2 of 7

biographical name (2)

Ford Mad*ox ˈma-dəks  1821–1893 English painter

Brown

3 of 7

biographical name (3)

George 1818–1880 Canadian (Scottish-born) journalist and politician

Brown

4 of 7

biographical name (4)

(James) Gordon 1951–     British prime minister (2007–10)

Brown

5 of 7

biographical name (5)

James (Joseph) 1933–2006 American singer and songwriter

Brown

6 of 7

biographical name (6)

John 1800–1859 Old Brown of Osawatomie ˌō-sə-ˈwä-tə-mē  American abolitionist

Brown

7 of 7

biographical name (7)

Michael Stuart 1941–     American biochemist