blackening
Becoming soot-colored
Blackening refers to the process of becoming black or making something black, whether through burning, charring, decay, or applied coating.
In cooking, blackening is a Cajun technique where fish or meat is coated with spices and cooked in a very hot cast-iron skillet until a dark, flavorful crust forms: I'm blackening some catfish for dinner.
The term also describes damage or discoloration: The blackening of the walls from smoke took weeks to clean.
Decreasing in brightness
- shadowingFollowing to observe
- obscuringMaking less visible
- shadingDepicting light and darkness
- eclipsingObscuring by surpassing
shroud · veiling · clouding · murkiness · darkening · charring · scorching · searing
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- vilifyAttack someone's reputation
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- smearSpread or defame
discredit · besmirch · calumny · aspersion · defamation · malign · impugn · stigmatize
Dense North American hardwood
- mesquiteThorny desert legume
- barbecueSlow-cook over coals
- charcoalBurned wood residue
- embersSmoldering fire remnants
ash · soot · campfire · smolder · woodfire · smokehouse · grilling · char
Substance improving food taste
- spice rubBlended aromatics for meat
- creoleNativized pidgin tongue
- redfishRosy-hued edible swimmer
- catfishBarbeled freshwater bottom-feeder
tilapia · cast iron · seared · charred · Louisiana · paprika · cayenne · thyme
Lasting surface discoloration
sully · mar · soil · corrode · rust · mottle · bruising · charring
Chemical wearing away
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- rustIron oxide coating
- patinaSurface film from aging
- deteriorationProcess of declining quality
Optical whitening agent
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- anodizingElectrolytic metal surface treatment
- galvanizationProtective metal coating process
- patinaSurface film from aging
Fearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
- gloomyDark and dispiriting
dread · portentous · storm clouds · brooding · looming · ill omen
dimming
Decreasing in brightness
eclipsing · shroud · veiling · clouding · murkiness · darkening · charring · scorching · searing · singeing
slander
Spoken false defamation
smear · discredit · besmirch · calumny · aspersion · defamation · malign · impugn · stigmatize · taint
hickory
Dense North American hardwood
embers · ash · soot · campfire · smolder · woodfire · smokehouse · grilling · char · wood-fired
seasoning
Substance improving food taste
catfish · tilapia · cast iron · seared · charred · Louisiana · paprika · cayenne · thyme · oregano
stain
Lasting surface discoloration
smudge · sully · mar · soil · corrode · rust · mottle · bruising · charring · scorching
corrosion
Chemical wearing away
bluing
Optical whitening agent
- oxidationLosing electrons chemically
- anodizingElectrolytic metal surface treatment
- galvanizationProtective metal coating process
patina · rust prevention · metal coating · protective coating
foreboding
Fearful anticipation of harm
- menacingConveying threat or danger
- threateningExpressing intent to harm
- sinisterThreateningly suggestive of harm
gloomy · dread · portentous · storm clouds · brooding · looming · ill omen
- color changedyeing, tinting, fading, bleaching, darkening
- cooking techniquessear, simmering, boiling, frying, saute
- grillinggrill, searing, gas grill, charring, coals
- cast ironcast iron, skillet, Dutch oven, dutch oven, frying pan
- cooking methodsfrying, boiling, baking, grilling, roasting
- discolorationdiscoloration, stain, stains, staining, spots
blackeningwhitening
Making something lighter
brightening · lightening · bleaching · whiting · whitewashing
blackeningpraising
Voicing admiration
honoring · lauding · glorifying · commending · extolling
black, blacken, blackout, blackmail, blacklist, blackberry, blackness, blackish, blackened