Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun A reduction or cutback in electric power, especially as a result of a shortage, a mechanical failure, or overuse by consumers.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- noun darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft).
- noun a partial reduction in the amount of electric power available to customers in a region, such as by reduction of voltage or selective cutoff of certain customers; -- it occurs for example in summer when the demand for electricity for air-conditioning exceeds the supply, or when power to certain customers is cut off by a severe storm. It is contrasted with
blackout , which is the total loss of electrical power in a region.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun A
period oflow alternating current linevoltage - noun
Temporary dimming ofvision , usually with abrown hue andaccompanied byloss ofperipheral vision ortunnel vision .
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun darkness resulting from the extinction of lights (as in a city invisible to enemy aircraft)
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Earlier on the day of the crash, the Sikorsky attempted to land in another spot, but dust churned up by its rotors caused a "brownout" - a condition in which visibility is limited by dust or sand - and forced the helicopter to circle around before attempting another landing.
unknown title 2009
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Both of those helicopters experiencing what are called brownout conditions, meaning the pilots couldn't see the ground because of all the dust flying in the air as they landed.
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The helicopters landing in what are called brownout conditions, meaning the dust on the desert floor rises up and engulfs the helicopter.
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A brownout is a small voltage reduction to conserve power, usually 2% to 8%.
Essential Guide to Business Style and Usage PAUL R. MARTIN 2002
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A brownout is a small voltage reduction to conserve power, usually 2% to 8%.
Essential Guide to Business Style and Usage PAUL R. MARTIN 2002
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We are told by one official that perhaps it was an accident caused by a problem called brownout, when the helicopter rotor blades kick up dust and debris.
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"A brownout is a service reduction, plain and simple," Bill Gault, president of Local 22, said Tuesday.
EMSResponder.com: Top EMS News rss@emsresponder.com (By Michael Brocker; Inquirer 2010
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One of the most dangerous tasks a helicopter pilot faces is landing in what's known as brownout, in which blowing sand obliterates not only the horizon but the landing spot itself.
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During those last 29 months the Journal-American and Mirror imposed a press "brownout" on McCarthy, occasionally mentioning him in news stories but almost never in columns and editorials.
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During those last 29 months the Journal-American and Mirror imposed a press "brownout" on McCarthy, occasionally mentioning him in news stories but almost never in columns and editorials.
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