black out

verb blacks out · blacking out · blacked out

1. idiomatic, transitive To censor or cover up by writing over with black ink. Seigel was able to send two post cards home in 44 months via the Red Cross. The first one was completely blacked out by the Japanese censor's pen. The second one he sent, Seigel wrote that he weighed his "usual weight of 130". Seigel's usual weight was 230 so the family could see that he had been se
2. figuratively, transitive To censor or cover up. I have blacked out your television, every station in the world is mine.
3. intransitive To lose consciousness; to suffer a blackout. I am blacking out—ease the stick forward slightly—the sky is clear again—I turn out over water—reverse turn—there are antiaircraft on the island below—I reverse again—and again.

   Similar: faint, pass out · Opposite: black in, come to

4. transitive To cause (someone) to lose consciousness.
5. transitive To obscure in darkness. Bleak darkness was blacking out the sea and jungle when Rainsford sighted the lights. He came upon them as he turned a crook in the coast line; and his first thought was that be had come upon a village, for there were many lights.

   Similar: darken

6. intransitive To be in a state of blackout, as a building, a city, a ship. The countryside blacked out to avoid helping enemy aircraft.