brownout
brownout Lexical Profile
brownout Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A temporary reduction in electrical power or voltage in a particular area, causing lights to dim and appliances to operate with reduced efficiency.
"The summer heatwave strained the city's power grid, resulting in a two-hour brownout across several neighborhoods."
In aviation, a dangerous loss of visibility during landing or takeoff caused by airborne dust or sand stirred up by an aircraft's rotors or engines.
"The helicopter pilot relied entirely on cockpit instruments to land safely during the severe desert brownout."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike a blackout, which is a complete loss of electrical power, a brownout is only a partial drop in voltage that typically causes lights to dim rather than go out completely.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the 1940s during World War II by analogy with 'blackout', referring to the dimming of incandescent lights caused by reduced electrical voltage.