n. 1. a suspension of radio or tv broadcasting. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 2. any darkness resulting from the extinction of lights. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 3. the failure of electric power for a general region sufficient to extinguish all normal lighting. Syn. -- brownout, dimout. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 4. a momentary loss of consciousness. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 5. partial or total loss of memory. he has a total blackout for events of the evening Syn. -- amnesia, memory loss. [ WordNet 1.5 ] 6. a period during which artificial lighting is forbidden, as in a city as a precaution against an air raid. [ PJC ] 7. (Theater) the darkening of all stage lights, as at then end of a performance or between acts. [ PJC ] 8. suppression of information distribution; as, there was a blackout on news from the military for the first day of the Gulf War. [ PJC ] 9. the prohibition of the broadcasting of a sports event, such as a boxing match or football game, sometimes confined to one particular area. It is usually done to encourage sales of tickets to the event. [ PJC ] |