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 of low alternating current line voltage
  • noun Temporary dimming of vision, usually with a brown hue and accompanied by loss of peripheral vision or tunnel 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

[brown + (black)out.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

brown +‎ out

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Examples

  • 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

  • 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.

    CNN Transcript Mar 29, 2003 2003

  • The helicopters landing in what are called brownout conditions, meaning the dust on the desert floor rises up and engulfs the helicopter.

    CNN Transcript Mar 29, 2003 2003

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

    CNN Transcript Oct 20, 2001 2001

  • "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

  • 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.

    RGJ.com - Latest News 2009

  • 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.

    Jim Tuck's homepage, biography and published works 2006

  • 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.

    Jim Tuck's homepage, biography and published works 2006

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