midnight

mid-night · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    Twelve o'clock at night; the middle of the night.

  2. 2.

    The period around twelve o'clock at night.

Forms

plural: midnights

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    midnight oil — to burn the midnight oil means to work late into the night
  • •
    midnight snack — food eaten late at night
  • •
    midnight blue — a very dark blue color
  • •
    stroke of midnight — exactly twelve o'clock at night
  • •
    midnight sun — the sun visible at midnight in polar regions during summer

Related words

Antonyms: midday, noon
See also: dawn, evening, midday, night
Synonyms: twelve o'clock, witching hour

Etymology

From Old English midniht, compound of mid ("middle") + niht ("night"). Parallel formation to midday.