black box

noun [C]

Definition

› [usually singular] a system or process that uses information to produce a particular set of results, but that works in a way that is secret or difficult to understand: The main problem with many international capital flows is that they are non-transparent - they come from, and reside within, a 'black box'.

› a piece of electronic equipment used to record and store information: Installation of a black box allows all emails sent and received to be monitored.

› a piece of equipment on an aircraft that records the plane's movements and positions during a flight, and which can give important information if the plane has an accident: The black box often holds critical clues for investigators looking for the cause of fatal plane crashes.

(Definition of black box noun from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

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