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⇱ sombre - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

sombre

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈsɒmbər/


Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
sombre, US somber /ˈsɒmbə/ adj
  1. dismal; melancholy: a sombre mood
  2. dim, gloomy, or shadowy
  3. (of colour, clothes, etc) sober, dull, or dark
Etymology: 18th Century: from French, from Vulgar Latin subumbrāre (unattested) to shade, from Latin sub beneath + umbra shadeˈsombrely, US ˈsomberly adv ˈsombreness, US ˈsomberness n sombrous /ˈsɒmbrəs/ adj
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
som•ber /ˈsɑmbɚ/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. dull in color or tone:a somber dress.
  2. downcast;
    glum:a somber mood.
  3. serious;
    grave:a somber expression on one's face.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] ˈsom•bre.  som•ber•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
som•ber  (som′bər),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. gloomily dark;
    shadowy;
    dimly lighted:a somber passageway.
  2. dark and dull, as color, or as things in respect to color:a somber dress.
  3. gloomy, depressing, or dismal:a somber mood.
  4. extremely serious;
    grave:a somber expression on his face.
Also,[esp. Brit.,] som′bre. 
  • Vulgar Latin *subumbrāre, equivalent. to Latin sub- sub- + umbrāre to cast a shadow, derivative of umbra shade
  • French sombre, Middle French, probably noun, nominal derivative of *sombrer to make shady
  • 1750–60
som′ber•ly, adv. 
som′ber•ness, n. 
    1. dusky, murky, sunless. 3. lugubrious, mournful, doleful, melancholy.
    1. bright. 3. cheerful.
'sombre' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
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