blackout
Pronunciation: /ˈblakaʊt/
noun
- 1a period when all lights must be turned out or covered to prevent them being seen by the enemy during an air raid: people found it difficult to travel in the blackout
- (usually blackouts) British dark curtains put up in windows to cover lights during an air raid.
- a failure of an electrical power supply: due to a power blackout their hotel was in total darkness
- a moment in the theatre when the lights on stage are suddenly dimmed.
- a suppression of information, especially one imposed on the media by government: there is a total information blackout on minority interests