Maroon
/məˈruːn/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo put ashore and abandon (a person) on a desolate island or coast, as by way of punishment.
/məˈruːn/
To abandon or leave someone in a deserted place, especially on an island.
The ship’s crew threatened to maroon the captain after he ignored their warnings.
💡 Simply: To leave someone somewhere awful, like on a deserted island, with no way to get back. Think of it like leaving someone stuck in a super boring, lonely place.
👶 For kids: To leave someone somewhere alone on purpose, like on an island.
More Examples
After the shipwreck, the survivors feared they would be marooned on the uninhabited island.
He felt marooned in his new job, overwhelmed by the responsibilities.
How It's Used
"The sailors marooned the mutinous first mate on a remote island."
"Pirates were often marooned as a punishment for crimes."
Of a dark brownish-red color.
/məˈruːn/
A dark brownish-red color.
The team's jerseys were maroon and gold.
💡 Simply: It's like a really dark red, almost like a brownish-red color, like the color of dried blood or a ripe plum.
👶 For kids: A dark, reddish-brown color.
More Examples
The leaves turned a beautiful shade of maroon in the fall.
She chose a maroon lipstick to complement her outfit.
How It's Used
"She wore a maroon dress to the formal event."
"The color maroon is often used in branding for its sense of luxury and stability."
From French *marron* (chestnut), from Spanish *cimarrón* (wild, runaway), originally used to describe escaped slaves in the Americas.
The term 'maroon' for escaped slaves dates back to the 17th century, used in the Caribbean and Americas. The use of the verb 'maroon' in the sense of abandonment developed later.
Memory tip
Imagine being a maroon-colored person, left alone on an island – stranded!
Word Origin
"wild, runaway"