sombre
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++som·bre British English, somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective 1 SERIOUS PERSONsad and serious 忧郁的，沮丧的 SYN grave They sat in sombre silence. 他们闷闷不乐地坐着，一声不吭。 We were all in a somber mood that night. 那天晚上我们所有人都心情沉重。 a sombre expression 忧郁的表情 on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral 在他母亲葬礼的那种严肃场合► see thesaurus at serious2 CCCOLOUR/COLORdark and without any bright colours 昏暗的，阴沉的，暗淡的 a sombre grey suit 暗色调的灰色套装 —sombrely adverb —sombreness noun [uncountable]
Examples from the Corpus
sombre• The sun was shining brightly, but the mood was sombre.• The procession was one of sombre colours, khaki and air force blue predominating.• If the outcome of this sombre, lovingly detailed film is unsurprising, its emotional power is undeniable.• In the Allegretto the music begins in the sombre low register and gradually rises through the octaves.• In the sombre main chamber where most of his days were spent, there was no decoration, no contrasting texture.• In sombre silence, wearing black ties, the Calvinist elders walk between the unusually-full pews.som·bre adjectiveChineseSyllable
sad Corpus serious and
sombre
som‧bre
British English, somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective
SYN grave:
They sat in sombre silence.
We were all in a somber mood that night.
a sombre expression
on the sombre occasion of his mother’s funeral
2. dark and without any bright colours:
a sombre grey suit
—sombrely adverb
—sombreness noun [uncountable]
■ not joking
▪serious not joking or laughing, or not pretending: His voice sounded serious. | They seem to be serious about their relationship.
▪solemn very serious because of an important or sad occasion or ceremony: My father looked solemn, the way grown-ups look at funerals. | The judge read the verdict in a solemn voice.
▪grave written quiet and very serious – used especially about the way people look when something important or worrying happens: She consulted Doctor Staples and returned looking grave. | He listened with a grave expression on his face.
▪sombre British English (also somber American English) /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ written sad, quiet, or serious because something unpleasant or worrying has happened or is going to happen: They sat in sombre silence. | The meeting began in a sombre mood.
▪earnest very serious and sincere – often used about someone who is young and not very experienced: He was a rather earnest-looking young man. | ‘That’s wrong,’ she said, her voice sounding very earnest.
som‧bre
British English, somber American English /ˈsɒmbə $ ˈsɑːmbər/ adjective Date: 1700-1800
Language: French
Origin: sombre, probably from Latin sub 'under' + umbra 'shade, shadow'
1. sad and serious Language: French
Origin: sombre, probably from Latin sub 'under' + umbra 'shade, shadow'
SYN grave:
2. dark and without any bright colours:
—sombrely adverb
—sombreness noun [uncountable]
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