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bleak

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The definition of bleak is something that is gloomy, somber or exposed to wind and cold.

(adjective)

An example of bleak is a dark, stormy and dreary day.

See bleak in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

exposed to wind and cold; unsheltered; treeless; bare
cold and cutting; harsh
not cheerful; gloomy; dreary
not promising or hopeful: a bleak future
Obsolete pale; wan

Origin: ME bleik < ON bleikr, pale: see bleach

Related Forms:

bleakly adverb
bleakness noun

noun pl. bleak or bleaks

any of a genus (Alburnus) of small, slender European carp with silvery scales, an extract of which is used in making artificial pearls

Origin: < ON bleikja < bleikr: see bleak

See bleak in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective bleak·er, bleak·est

a. Gloomy and somber: “Life in the Aran Islands has always been bleak and difficult” (John Millington Synge).
b. Providing no encouragement; depressing: a bleak prospect.
Cold and cutting; raw: bleak winds of the North Atlantic.
Exposed to the elements; unsheltered and barren: the bleak, treeless regions of the high Andes.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English bleik, pale

Origin: , from Old Norse bleikr, white; see bhel-¹ in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

bleakˈly adverb

bleakˈness noun

noun pl. bleak bleak or bleaks

A small European freshwater fish of the genus Alburnus that is related to the carp and has silvery scales used in the manufacture of artificial pearls.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English bleke

Origin: , probably alteration (influenced by bleke, pale)

Origin: of *blay

Origin: , from Old English blǣge

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