brown out
When electricity gets weak and lights go dim but don't go off completely.
Meanings
To experience or cause a deliberate reduction in electrical power, resulting in dimmed lights and reduced voltage across an area.
"The utility company decided to brown out several suburbs to prevent a total grid failure."
(Military) To reduce or screen lighting in an area as a security measure, less complete than a full blackout.
"The coastal town was ordered to brown out during the naval exercises."
Most commonly used as a noun ('a brownout') in American English. As a verb phrase, 'brown out' is less frequent. Used in electrical engineering, utility, and military contexts. Distinct from 'blackout', which implies total loss.
Commonly used with
Forms
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