bl -abbr
- bale
- barrel
- black
- block
- blue
BL -abbr
- bachelor of letters
- baseline
- bill of lading
- breadth-length
blab ['blab] -n, adj
- one that blabs : tattletale
- idle or excessive talk : chatter
- to talk idly or thoughtlessly
- to reveal a secret esp. by indiscreet chatter
- to reveal esp. without reserve or discretion
- blabbed the whole affair to the press
blab·ber ['bla-bər] -vb
- to talk foolishly or excessively
- to say indiscreetly
blabber -n
- idle talk : babble
- a person who blabs
blab·ber·mouth ['bla-bər-,mau̇th] -n
- a person who talks too much
- tattletale
black ['blak] -adj, adv, n
- of the color black
- very dark in color
- his face was black with rage
- having a very deep or low register
- a bass with a black voice
- heavy, serious
- the play was a black intrigue
- having dark skin, hair, and eyes : swarthy
- of or relating to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin
- of or relating to the African-American people or their culture
- typical or representative of the most readily perceived characteristics of black culture
- tried to play black er jazz
- dressed in black
- dirty, soiled
- characterized by the absence of light
- reflecting or transmitting little or no light
- served without milk or cream
- thoroughly sinister or evil : wicked
- indicative of condemnation or discredit
- got a black mark for being late
- connected with or invoking the supernatural and esp. the devil
- very sad, gloomy, or calamitous
- marked by the occurrence of disaster
- characterized by hostility or angry discontent : sullen
- black resentment filled his heart
- subject to boycott by trade-union members as employing or favoring nonunion workers or as operating under conditions considered unfair by the trade union
- conducted so as to appear to originate within an enemy country and designed to weaken enemy morale
- characterized by or connected with the use of black propaganda
- characterized by grim, distorted, or grotesque satire
- of or relating to covert intelligence operations
- black government programs
- a black pigment or dye
- one consisting largely of carbon
- the achromatic color of least lightness characteristically perceived to belong to objects that neither reflect nor transmit light
- : something that is black: as
- black clothing
- a black animal (as a horse)
- a person belonging to any of various population groups having dark pigmentation of the skin
- african-american
- the pieces of a dark color in a board game for two players (as chess)
- total or nearly total absence of light
- the condition of making a profit usu. used with the
- to become black
- to make black
- to declare (as a business or industry) subject to boycott by trade-union members
black alder -n
- winterberry
black·a·moor ['bla-kə-,mu̇r] -n
- a dark-skinned person
- black
blackandblue [,bla-kən-'blü] -adj
- darkly discolored from blood effused by bruising
blackandtan [-kən-'tan] -adj
- having a predominantly black color pattern with deep red or rusty tan usu. on the feet, breeching, and cheek patches, above the eyes, and inside the ears
- favoring or practicing proportional representation of whites and blacks in politics
- frequented by both blacks and whites
black and tan -n
- a black-and-tan animal (as a dog)
- a drink consisting of a dark beer (as stout or porter) and ale or beer of a paler color
- a recruit enlisted in England in 192021 for service in the Royal Irish Constabulary against the armed movement for Irish independence
- a member of a black-and-tan political organization (as in the southern U.S.)
blackandtan coonhound -n
- any of a breed of strong vigorous coonhounds of U.S. origin with black-and-tan markings
blackandwhite [,bla-kən-'hwīt, -'wīt] -adj
- partly black and partly white in color
- being in writing or print
- executed in dark pigment on a light background or in light pigment on a dark ground
- monochrome
- sharply divided into good and evil
- evaluating or viewing things as either all good or all bad
- sharply defined : clear-cut
- the truth is not always blackandwhite
- squad car
black and white -n
- writing, print
- a drawing or print done in black and white or in monochrome
- monochrome reproduction of visual images (as by photography or television)
Black Angus -n
- angus
blackavised ['bla-kə-,vīst] -adj
- having a dark complexion
black·ball ['blak-,bȯl] -vt
- to vote against
- to exclude from membership by casting a negative vote
- to exclude socially : ostracize
- boycott
blackball -n
- a small black ball for use as a negative vote in a ballot box
- an adverse vote esp. against admitting someone to membership in an organization
black bass -n
- any of a genus ( Micropterus) of freshwater sunfishes native to eastern and central No. America and including the largemouth bass and smallmouth bass
black bean -n
- a black kidney bean commonly used in Latin American cuisine
- a black soybean commonly used usu. fermented in east Asian cuisine
black bear -n
- the common No. American bear ( Ursus americanus) ranging in color from brown or typical black to white
black beast -n
- bete noire
black belt ['blak-,belt] -n
- an area characterized by rich black soil
- an area densely populated by blacks
- one who holds the rating of expert in various arts of self-defense (as judo and karate)
- the rating itself
black·ber·ry ['blak-,ber-ē, -'be-rē] -n
- the usu. black or dark purple juicy but seedy edible aggregate fruit of various brambles (genus Rubus) of the rose family
- a plant that bears blackberries
black bile -n
- a humor of medieval physiology believed to be secreted by the kidneys or spleen and to cause melancholy
black birch -n
- sweet birch
black·bird ['blak-,bərd] -n
- : any of various birds of which the males are largely or entirely black: as
- a common thrush ( Turdus merula) of Eurasia and northern Africa having an orange bill and eye rim
- any of several American oscine birds (family Icteridae)
- a Pacific islander kidnapped for use as a plantation laborer
blackbird -vi
- to engage in the slave trade esp. in the So. Pacific
black·bird·er -n
- a person who blackbirds
- a ship used in blackbirding
black·board ['blak-,bȯrd] -n
- a hard smooth usu. dark surface used esp. in a classroom for writing or drawing on with chalk
black·body ['blak-'bä-dē] -n
- an ideal body or surface that completely absorbs all radiant energy falling upon it with no reflection and that radiates at all frequencies with a spectral energy distribution dependent on its absolute temperature
black book -n
- a book containing a blacklist
black box -n
- a usu. complicated electronic device whose internal mechanism is usu. hidden from or mysterious to the user
- anything that has mysterious or unknown internal functions or mechanisms
- a crashworthy device in aircraft for recording cockpit conversations and flight data
- being or containing a warning of a serious or life-threatening side effect (as stroke or muscle damage) that is highlighted by a black border on a prescription drug's label or accompanying literature
black·buck ['blak-,bək] -n
- an antelope ( Antilope cervicapra) native to India and adjacent regions in which the male has spirally twisted horns and a chiefly dark brown coat and the female a chiefly yellowish-fawn coat
black·cap ['blak-,kap] -n
- : any of several birds with black heads or crowns: as
- a small gray European warbler ( Sylvia atricapilla) with a black crown
- chickadee
- black raspberry
blackcapped [-'kapt] -adj
- having the top of the head black
Black Carib -n
- garifuna
black cherry -n
- a large cherry ( Prunus serotina) of eastern and central No. America having drooping clusters of small white flowers and astringent black or dark purple fruits
- the fruit
- the strong reddish-brown wood of the black cherry used esp. for cabinetwork
black·cock [-,käk] -n
- black grouse
- the male black grouse
black cod -n
- a large gray to blackish bony fish ( Anoplopoma fimbriaof the family Anoplomatidae) of the Pacific coast that is an important food fish and has a liver rich in vitamins called also sablefish
black cohosh -n
- a bugbane ( Cimicifuga racemosa) of the eastern U.S.
black crappie -n
- a silvery black-mottled sunfish ( Pomoxis nigromaculatus) of eastern and central No. America having seven or eight protruding spines on the dorsal fins
blackcrowned night heron ['blak-,krau̇nd-] -n
- a widely distributed night heron ( Nycticorax nycticorax) having a black crown and back, gray wings, and white underparts
black currant -n
- a European perennial currant ( Ribes nigrum) bearing aromatic edible black berries that are used esp. in flavoring liqueur (as cassis)
- the fruit
black damp -n
- a carbon dioxide mixture occurring as a mine gas and incapable of supporting life or flame
black death -n
- plague
- a severe epidemic of plague and esp. bubonic plague that occurred in Asia and Europe in the 14th century
black diamond -n
- dense black hematite
- coal
- carbonado
black duck -n
- any of several ducks that are dark in color
- a common brown duck ( Anas rubripes) of eastern No. America
black dwarf -n
- a very small cooled remnant of white dwarf that emits no detectable light
black·en ['bla-kən] -vb, n
- to become dark or black
- to make black
- defame, sully
- blacken ed her reputation
black·ened [-kənd] -adj
- coated with a mixture of spices (as garlic powder and cayenne pepper) and fried over extremely high heat
Black English -n
- a nonstandard variety of English spoken by some African-Americans called also Black English vernacular
black·en·ing ['blak-niŋ, 'bla-kə-] -n
- blacking
black eye -n
- a discoloration of the skin around the eye from bruising
- defeat, setback
- a bad reputation
blackeyed pea ['blak-,īd-] -n
- cowpea
blackeyed Su·san [-'sü-zᵊn] -n
- a No. American coneflower ( Rudbeckia hirtasyn. R. serotina) having flower heads with deep yellow to orange rays and dark conical disks
black·face ['blak-,fās] -n
- makeup applied to a performer playing a black person esp. in a minstrel show
- a performer wearing such makeup
black·fish [-,fish] -n
- : any of numerous dark-colored fishes: as
- tautog
- a small bony fish ( Dallia pectoralisof the family Umbridae) of Alaska and Siberia that is used for food and is noted for its resistance to cold
- any of several small toothed whales
- pilot whale
blackflag [-'flag] -vt
- to signal (a race-car driver) to go immediately to the pits
black flag -n
- a pirate's flag usu. bearing a skull and crossbones
black·fly ['blak-,flī] -n
- any of various small dark-colored insects
- any of a family (Simuliidae and esp. genus Simulium) of bloodsucking dipteran flies whose larvae usu. live in flowing streams
Black·foot ['blak-,fu̇t] -n
- a member of an American Indian people of Montana, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
- the Algonquian language of the Blackfeet
blackfoot·ed albatross ['blak-,fu̇-təd-] -n
- an albatross ( Diomedea nigripes) of the Pacific that is chiefly blackish with dusky bill and black feet and legs called also gooney
blackfooted ferret -n
- a rare weasel ( Mustela nigripes) of western No. American prairies having a yellowish coat, dark feet and facial mask, and a dark-tipped tail
black gold -n
- petroleum
black grouse -n
- a large grouse ( Tetrao tetrixsyn. Lyrurus tetrix) of western Asia and Europe of which the male is black with white wing patches and the female is barred and mottled
black·guard ['bla-gərd, -,gärd; 'blak-,gärd] -n, adj or adv
- the kitchen servants of a household
- a rude or unscrupulous person
- a person who uses foul or abusive language
blackguard -vt
- to talk about or address in abusive terms
black gum -n
- a tupelo ( Nyssa sylvatica) of the eastern U.S. with light and soft but tough wood
black hand ['blak-,han-dər] -n
- a lawless secret society engaged in criminal activities (as terrorism or extortion)
black·head ['blak-,hed] -n
- a small plug of sebum blocking the duct of a sebaceous gland esp. on the face
- a destructive disease of turkeys and related birds caused by a protozoan ( Histomonas meleagridis) that invades the intestinal ceca and liver
- a larval clam or mussel attached to the skin or gills of a freshwater fish
black·heart [-,härt] -n
- a plant disease in which the central tissues blacken
black hole -n
- a celestial object that has a gravitational field so strong that light cannot escape it and that is believed to be created esp. in the collapse of a very massive star
- : something resembling a black hole: as
- something that consumes a resource continually
- an empty space : void
black ice -n
- a nearly transparent film of ice on a dark surface (as a paved road or a body of water) that is difficult to see
black·ing ['bla-kiŋ] -n
- a substance (as a paste or polish) that is applied to an object to make it black
black·jack [-,jak] -n
- a tankard for beer or ale usu. of tar-coated leather
- sphalerite
- a hand weapon typically consisting of a piece of leather-enclosed metal with a strap or springy shaft for a handle
- an often scrubby oak ( Quercus marilandica) chiefly of the southeastern U.S. called also blackjack oak
- a card game the object of which is to be dealt cards having a higher count than those of the dealer up to but not exceeding 21 called also twenty-one vingt-et-un
blackjack -vt
- to strike with a blackjack
- to coerce with threats or pressure
black·land ['blak-,land] -n
- a heavy sticky black soil such as that covering large areas in Texas
- a region of blackland
black·lead ['blak-,led] -n
- graphite
black·leg ['blak-,leg, -,lāg] -n
- a usu. fatal toxemia esp. of young cattle caused by a soil bacterium ( Clostridium chauvoei)
- a cheating gambler : swindler
- a worker hostile to trade unionism or acting in opposition to union policies : scab
blacklegged tick ['blak-'legd-, -'lāgd-; -'le-gəd-, -'lā-] -n
- : either of two ixodid ticks:
- deer tick
- a tick ( Ixodes pacificus) of the western U.S. and British Columbia that is the vector of several diseases (as Lyme disease)
black letter -n
- a heavy angular condensed typeface used esp. by the earliest European printers and based on handwriting used chiefly in the 13th to 15th centuries
- this style of handwriting
black light -n
- invisible ultraviolet light
- a lamp that radiates black light
black·light trap ['blak-,līt-] -n
- a trap for insects that uses a form of black light perceptible to particular insects as an attractant
black·list [-,list] -n
- a list of persons who are disapproved of or are to be punished or boycotted
blacklist -vt, n
- to put on a blacklist
black locust -n
- a tall tree ( Robinia pseudoacacia) of eastern No. America with pinnately compound leaves, drooping racemes of fragrant white flowers, and strong stiff wood
black lung -n
- pneumoconiosis caused by habitual inhalation of coal dust
black·mail ['blak-,mā(ə)l] -n, vt
- a tribute anciently exacted on the Scottish border by plundering chiefs in exchange for immunity from pillage
- extortion or coercion by threats esp. of public exposure or criminal prosecution
- the payment that is extorted
Black Ma·ria [,blak-mə-'rī-ə] -n
- paddy wagon
blackmar·ket [-,mär-kə-'tir] -vi, n
- to buy or sell goods in the black market
- to sell in the black market
black market -n
- illicit trade in goods or commodities in violation of official regulations
- a place where such trade is carried on
Black Mass -n
- a travesty of the Christian Mass ascribed to worshipers of Satan
Black Muslim -n
- a member of a chiefly black group that professes Islamic religious belief
black nationalist -n
- a member of a group of militant blacks who advocate separatism from the whites and the formation of self-governing black communities
blackonblack -adj
- involving a black person against another black person
black·out ['blak-,au̇t] -n
- a turning off of the stage lighting to separate scenes in a play or end a play or skit
- a skit that ends with a blackout
- a period of darkness enforced as a precaution against air raids
- a period of darkness (as in a city) caused by a failure of electrical power
- a transient dulling or loss of vision, consciousness, or memory
- a wiping out : obliteration
- a blotting out by censorship : suppression
- a usu. temporary loss of a radio signal
- the prohibition or restriction of the telecasting of a sports event
- a time during which a special commercial offer (as of tickets) is not valid usu. used attributively
black out -vt
- to suppress by censorship
- blot out, erase
- blacked out the event from his mind
- to envelop in darkness
- to make inoperative (as by a power failure)
- to impose a blackout on
- blacked out the local game
- to become enveloped in darkness
- to undergo a temporary loss of vision, consciousness, or memory
Black Panther -n
- a member of an organization of militant American blacks
black pepper -n
- a spice that consists of the dried berry of an Indian vine ground with the black husk still on
- the plant ( Piper nigrum) that yields black pepper
black·poll ['blak-,pōl] -n
- a No. American warbler ( Dendroica striata) with the male having a black cap when in breeding plumage
black powder -n
- an explosive mixture of potassium nitrate or sodium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur used esp. in fireworks and as a propellant in antique firearms
black power -n
- the mobilization of the political and economic power of American blacks esp. to compel respect for their rights and improve their condition
black pudding -n
- blood sausage
black racer -n
- : either of two common black colubrid snakes of the U.S.:
- a snake ( Coluber constrictor constrictor) chiefly of the eastern U.S.
- a snake ( C. constrictor priapus) of the southeastern U.S.
black raspberry -n
- a raspberry ( Rubus occidentalis) of eastern No. America that has a purplish-black fruit and is the source of several cultivated varieties called also blackcap
black rhinoceros -n
- a rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis) of sub-Saharan Africa having a prehensile upper lip that protrudes in the middle called also black rhino
Black Rod -n
- the principal usher of the House of Lords
black rot -n
- a bacterial or fungal rot of plants marked by dark brown discoloration
black sheep -n
- a disfavored or disreputable member of a group
Black·shirt ['blak-,shərt] -n
- a member of a fascist organization having a black shirt as a distinctive part of its uniform
- a member of the Italian Fascist party
black·smith ['blak-,smith] -n
- a smith who forges iron
black smoker -n
- a vent in a geologically active region of the sea floor from which issues superheated water laden with minerals (as sulfide precipitates)
- a rock chimney covering such a vent
black·snake [-,snāk] -n
- : any of several snakes that are largely black or very dark in color: as
- a black racer ( Coluber constrictor constrictor)
- a rat snake ( Elaphe obsoleta obsoleta)
- a long tapering braided whip of rawhide or leather
black spot -n
- any of several bacterial or fungal diseases of plants characterized by black spots or blotches esp. on the leaves
black spruce -n
- a widely distributed spruce ( Picea mariana) of northern No. America that grows chiefly in moist soils and bogs
black·strap molasses ['blak-,strap-] -n
- a thick dark molasses obtained from successive processing of raw sugar
black swallowtail -n
- a usu. dark-colored New World swallowtail ( Papilio polyxenes) having yellow spots on the wing margins and a black spot centered within a larger orange spot on the hindwing inner edge
black·tail ['blak-,tāl] -n
- black-tailed deer
blacktailed deer ['blak-,tāl(d)-] -n
- mule deer
- one of a subspecies ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) esp. of British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington
black tea -n
- tea that is dark in color from complete fermentation of the leaf before firing
black·thorn ['blak-,thȯrn] -n
- a European spiny plum ( Prunus spinosa) with hard wood and small white flowers
blacktie -adj
- characterized by or requiring the wearing of semiformal evening clothes consisting of a usu. black tie and tuxedo for men and a formal dress for women
black tie -n
- semiformal clothing
- gentlemen in black tie for the banquet
black·top ['blak-,täp] -n, vt
- a bituminous material used esp. for surfacing roads
- a surface paved with blacktop
Blackwall hitch ['blak-,wȯl-] -n
- a hitch knot for securing a rope to a hook
black walnut -n
- a walnut ( Juglans nigra) of eastern No. America with hard strong heavy dark brown wood and oily edible nuts
- its wood or nut
black·wa·ter ['blak-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n
- any of several diseases (as blackwater fever) characterized by dark-colored urine
blackwater fever -n
- a febrile complication of repeated malarial attacks that is characterized esp. by extensive kidney damage and urine discolored by heme from blood
black widow -n
- a venomous New World spider ( Latrodectus mactans) the female of which is black with an hourglass-shaped red mark on the underside of the abdomen
black·wood ['blak-,wu̇d] -n
- any of several hardwood trees (as Acacia melanoxylonand Dalbergia latifoliaof the legume family) or their dark-colored wood
blad·der ['bla-dər] -n, adj
- a membranous sac in animals that serves as the receptacle of a liquid or contains gas
- urinary bladder
- cyst
- something (as the rubber bag inside a football) resembling a bladder
bladder campion -n
- an Old World campion ( Silene vulgarissyn. S. cucubalus) with an inflated calyx introduced into temperate No. America
blad·der·nut ['bla-dər-,nət] -n
- any of a genus ( Staphyleaof the family Staphyleaceae, the bladdernut family) of ornamental shrubs or small trees with panicles of small white flowers followed by inflated capsules
- one of the capsules
bladder worm -n
- a bladderlike larval tapeworm (as a cysticercus)
blad·der·wort ['bla-dər-,wərt, -,wȯrt] -n
- any of a genus ( Utriculariaof the family Lentibulariaceae, the bladderwort family) of chiefly aquatic plants with leaves usu. having insect-trapping bladders
bladder wrack -n
- a common rockweed ( Fucus vesiculosus) used in preparing kelp and as a manure
blade ['blād] -n, adj
- leaf
- the leaf of an herb or a grass
- the flat expanded part of a leaf as distinguished from the petiole
- : something resembling the blade of a leaf: as
- the broad flattened part of an oar or paddle
- an arm of a screw propeller, electric fan, or steam turbine
- the broad flat or concave part of a machine (as a bulldozer or snowplow) that comes into contact with the material to be moved
- a broad flat body part
- scapula used chiefly in naming cuts of meat
- the flat portion of the tongue immediately behind the tip
- this portion together with the tip
- the cutting part of an implement
- sword
- swordsman
- a dashing lively man
- the runner of an ice skate
- to skate on in-line skates
blad·ed ['blā-dəd] -adj
- having blades often used in combination
blae ['blā] -adj
- dark blue or bluish gray
blae·ber·ry ['blā-,ber-ē, -,b(ə-)rē] -n
- bilberry
blah ['blä] -n
- silly or pretentious chatter or nonsense
- a feeling of boredom, lethargy, or general dissatisfaction
- lacking interest : mediocre, boring
blain ['blān] -n
- an inflammatory swelling or sore
blam·able ['blā-mə-bəl] -adj, adv
- deserving blame : reprehensible
blame ['blām] -vt, n
- to find fault with : censure
- the right to praise or blame a literary work
- to hold responsible
- they blame me for everything
- to place responsibility for
- an expression of disapproval or reproach : censure
- a state of being blameworthy : culpability
- fault, sin
- responsibility for something believed to deserve censure
- they must share the blame
blame·ful ['blām-fəl] -adj, adv
- blamable
blame·wor·thy [-,wər-thē] -adj, n
- being at fault : deserving blame
blanc de chine [,bläⁿ-də-'shēn] -n
- white Chinese porcelain usu. used for making figurines
blanch ['blanch] -vb, n
- : to take the color out of: as
- to bleach by excluding light
- to scald or parboil in water or steam in order to remove the skin from, whiten, or stop enzymatic action in (as food for freezing)
- to make ashen or pale
- to become white or pale
blanc·mange [blə-'mänj, -'mäⁿzh] -n
- a usu. sweetened and flavored dessert made from gelatinous or starchy ingredients and milk
bland ['bland] -adj, adv, n
- smooth and soothing in manner or quality
- exhibiting no personal concern or embarrassment : unperturbed
- a bland confession of guilt
- not irritating, stimulating, or invigorating : soothing
- dull, insipid
- bland stories with little plot or action
blan·dish ['blan-dish] -vb, n
- to coax with flattery : cajole
- to act or speak in a flattering or coaxing manner
blan·dish·ment [-dish-mənt] -n
- something that tends to coax or cajole : allurement often used in pl.
blank ['blaŋk] -adj, adv, n
- colorless
- appearing or causing to appear dazed, confounded, or nonplussed
- expressionless
- devoid of covering or content
- free from writing or marks
- having spaces to be filled in
- lacking interest, variety, or change
- absolute, unqualified
- unfinished
- having a plain or unbroken surface where an opening is usual
- the bull's-eye of a target
- an empty space (as on a paper)
- a paper with spaces for the entry of data
- a piece of material prepared to be made into something (as a key) by a further operation
- a cartridge loaded with propellant and a seal but no projectile
- an empty or featureless place or space
- a vacant or uneventful period
- a dash substituting for an omitted word
- obscure, obliterate
- to stop access to : seal
- to keep (an opponent) from scoring
- were blank ed for eight innings
- fade usu. used with out
- to become confused or abstracted often used with out
- his mind blank ed out momentarily
blank check -n
- complete freedom of action or control : carte blanche
- a signed check with the amount unspecified
blan·ket ['blaŋ-kət] -n, adj
- a large usu. oblong piece of woven fabric used as a bed covering
- a similar piece of fabric used as a body covering (as for an animal)
- something that resembles a blanket
- a rubber or plastic sheet on the cylinder in an offset press that transfers the image to the surface being printed
blanket -vt
- to cover with or as if with a blanket
- new grass blanket s the slope
- to cover so as to obscure, interrupt, suppress, or extinguish
- to interrupt the smooth flow of wind to (as a downwind ship)
- to apply or cause to apply to uniformly despite wide separation or diversity among the elements included
- freight rates that blanket a region
- to cause to be included
- automatically blanket ed into the insurance program
- covering all members of a group or class
- effective or applicable in all instances
blanket chest -n
- a piece of furniture with a hinged lid, a deep well, and usu. one or two drawers underneath
blan·ket·flow·er ['blaŋ-kət-,flau̇(-ə)r] -n
- gaillardia
blanket stitch -n, vt
- a buttonhole stitch with spaces of variable width used on materials too thick to hem
blank slate -n
- tabula rasa
blank verse -n
- unrhymed verse
- unrhymed iambic pentameter verse
blan·quette [bläⁿ-'ket] -n
- a stew of light meat or seafood in a white sauce
blare ['bler] -vb
- to sound loud and strident
- to sound or utter raucously
- to proclaim flamboyantly
- headlines blared his defeat
- a loud strident noise
- dazzling often garish brilliance
- flamboyance
blar·ney ['blär-nē] -n, vb
- skillful flattery : blandishment
- nonsense, humbug
bla·se [blä-'zā] -adj
- apathetic to pleasure or excitement as a result of excessive indulgence or enjoyment : world-weary
- sophisticated, worldly-wise
- unconcerned
blas·pheme [blas-'fēm, 'blas-,] -vb, n
- to speak of or address with irreverence
- revile, abuse
- to utter blasphemy
blas·phe·mous ['blas-fə-məs] -adj, adv, n
- impiously irreverent : profane
blas·phe·my ['blas-fə-mē] -n
- the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
- the act of claiming the attributes of deity
- irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable
blast ['blast] -n
- a violent gust of wind
- the effect or accompaniment (as sleet) of such a gust
- the sound produced by an impulsion of air through a wind instrument or whistle
- : something resembling a gust of wind: as
- a stream of air or gas forced through a hole
- a vehement outburst
- the continuous blowing to which a charge of ore or metal is subjected in a blast furnace
- a sudden pernicious influence or effect
- the blast of a huge epidemic
- a disease of plants marked by the formation of destructive lesions on leaves and inflorescences
- an explosion or violent detonation
- the shock wave of an explosion
- a forceful hit (as in baseball) or shot (as in soccer or golf)
- home run
- speed, capacity, operation
- an enjoyably exciting experience, occasion, or event
- party
- blare
- music blast ing from the radio
- to make a vigorous attack
- to use an explosive
- shoot
- to hit a golf ball out of a sand trap with explosive force
- to proceed rapidly or aggressively
- blast ing down the ski slope
- to injure by or as if by the action of wind
- blight
- to shatter by or as if by an explosive
- to remove, open, or form by or as if by an explosive
- shoot
- to attack vigorously
- to cause to blast off
- will blast themselves from the moon's surface
- to hit vigorously and effectively
- to play loudly
- blast ing rock music on the stereo
blast- -comb form
- bud : budding : germ
blast·ed -adj
- damaged by or as if by an explosive, lightning, wind, or supernatural force
- upon this blasted heath -- Shak.
- damned, detestable
- intoxicated from drugs or alcohol
blas·te·ma [bla-'stē-mə] -n, adj
- a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of growth and differentiation
blast furnace -n
- a furnace in which combustion is forced by a current of air under pressure
- one for the reduction of iron ore
blast·ie ['blas-tē] -n
- an ugly little creature
blasting cap -n
- a small explosive device that is combined with a fuse to detonate a larger explosive
blast·ment ['blas(t)-mənt] -n
- a blighting influence
blas·to·coel ['blas-tə-,sēl] -n, adj
- the fluid-filled cavity of a blastula
blas·to·cyst ['blas-tə-,sist] -n
- the modified blastula of a placental mammal having an outer layer composed of the trophoblast
blas·to·derm [-,dərm] -n
- a blastodisc after completion of cleavage and formation of the blastocoel
blas·to·der·mic vesicle ['blas-tə-,dər-mik-] -n
- blastocyst
blas·to·disc ['blas-tə-,disk] -n
- the embryo-forming portion of an egg with discoidal cleavage usu. appearing as a small disc on the upper surface of the yolk mass
blast·off ['blast-,ȯf] -n
- a blasting off (as of a rocket)
blast off -vi
- take off used esp. of rocket-propelled missiles and vehicles
blas·to·mere ['blas-tə-,mir] -n
- one of the cells that are produced during cleavage of a zygote and that form the morula
blas·to·my·co·sis [,blas-tə-,mī-'kō-səs] -n
- any of several fungal infections
- an infectious disease caused by a yeast fungus ( Blastomyces dermititidis) that affects esp. the lungs and skin
blas·to·pore ['blas-tə-,pȯr] -n, adj
- the opening of the archenteron
blas·to·spore ['blas-tə-,spȯr] -n
- a fungal spore produced by budding
blas·tu·la ['blas-chə-lə] -n
- an early metazoan embryo typically having the form of a hollow fluid-filled rounded cavity bounded by a single layer of cells
blat ['blat] -vb, n
- to cry like a calf or sheep : bleat
- to make a raucous noise
- blab
- to utter loudly or foolishly : blurt
bla·tan·cy ['blā-tᵊn(t)-sē] -n
- the quality or state of being blatant
- something that is blatant
bla·tant ['blā-tᵊnt] -adj, adv
- noisy esp. in a vulgar or offensive manner : clamorous
- completely obvious, conspicuous, or obtrusive esp. in a crass or offensive manner : brazen
- blatant disregard for the rules
blate ['blāt] -adj
- timid, sheepish
blath·er ['bla-thər] -vi, n
- to talk foolishly at length often used with on
blather -n
- voluble nonsensical or inconsequential talk or writing
- stir, commotion
blath·er·skite ['bla-thər-,skīt] -n
- a person who blathers a lot
- nonsense, blather
blat·ter ['bla-tər] -vi
- to talk noisily and fast
blaw ['blȯ] -vb
- blow
blax·ploi·ta·tion [,blak-(,)splȯi-'tā-shən] -n
- the exploitation of blacks by producers of black-oriented films
blaze ['blāz] -n
- an intensely burning fire
- intense direct light often accompanied by heat
- an active burning
- a sudden bursting forth of flame
- : something that resembles the blaze of a fire: as
- a dazzling display
- a sudden outburst
- went down in a blaze of glory
- hell
- to burn brightly
- to flare up : flame
- to be conspicuously brilliant or resplendent
- fields blazing with flowers
- to shoot rapidly and repeatedly usu. used with away
- to proceed extremely rapidly : blast
- to make public or conspicuous
- a usu. white stripe down the center of the face of an animal
- a white or gray streak in the hair of the head
- a trail marker
- a mark made on a tree by chipping off a piece of the bark
- to mark (as a trail) with blazes
- to lead in some direction or activity
- blaze new trails in education
blaze orange -n
- a very bright orange used in clothing esp. by hunters for visibility
blaz·er ['blā-zər] -n, adj
- one that blazes
- a sports jacket often with notched collar and patch pockets
blaz·ing -adj, adv
- of outstanding power, speed, heat, or intensity
blazing star -n
- comet
- : any of various plants having conspicuous flower clusters or star-shaped flowers: as
- any of a genus ( Liatris) of No. American composite herbs with spikes of rosy-purple rayless flowers called also button snakeroot
- any of several No. American rough-leaved herbs (genus Mentzeliaof the family Losaceae)
bla·zon ['blā-zᵊn] -n
- armorial bearings : coat of arms
- the proper description or representation of heraldic or armorial bearings
- ostentatious display
blazon ['blāz-niŋ; 'blā-zᵊn-iŋ] -vt, n
- to publish widely : proclaim
- to describe (heraldic or armorial bearings) in technical terms
- to represent (armorial bearings) in drawing or engraving
- display
- deck, adorn
- the town was blazon ed with flags
bla·zon·ry ['blā-zᵊn-rē] -n
- blazon
- blazon
- a dazzling display
bld -abbr
- blond
- blood
bldg -abbr
- building
bldr -abbr
- builder
bleach ['blēch] -vb, adj
- to remove color or stains from
- to make whiter or lighter esp. by physical or chemical removal of color
- the sun had bleach ed her hair
- to remove, make dull, or sanitize as if by removing color
- bleach es colonialism of its genocidal legacy -- H. A. Giroux
- to grow white or lose color
- to expel symbiotic zooxanthellae exposing a white skeleton
- the act or process of bleaching
- a preparation used in bleaching
- the degree of whiteness obtained by bleaching
bleach·er ['blē-chər] -n
- one that bleaches or is used in bleaching
- a usu. uncovered stand of tiered planks providing seating for spectators usu. used in pl.
bleaching powder -n
- a white powder consisting chiefly of calcium hydroxide, calcium chloride, and calcium hypochlorite and used as a bleach, disinfectant, or deodorant
bleak ['blēk] -adj, adv, n
- exposed and barren and often windswept
- cold, raw
- lacking in warmth, life, or kindliness : grim
- not hopeful or encouraging : depressing
- severely simple or austere
blear ['blir] -vt
- to make (the eyes) sore or watery
- dim, blur
- dim with water or tears
- obscure to the view or imagination
bleareyed [-,īd] -adj
- bleary-eyed
bleary ['blir-ē] -adj, adv, n
- dull or dimmed esp. from fatigue or sleep
- poorly outlined or defined : dim
- very tired
blearyeyed [-,īd] -adj
- having the eyes dimmed and watery (as from fatigue, drink, or emotion)
bleat ['blēt, Northern also 'blat, Southern usu 'blāt] -vb, n
- to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat
- to utter a similar sound
- whimper
- to talk complainingly or with a whine
- blather
- to utter in a bleating manner
- the cry of a sheep or goat
- a similar sound
- the bleat of a cell phone
- a feeble outcry, protest, or complaint
bleb ['bleb] -n, adj
- a small blister
- bubble
- a small particle
- something resembling a bleb
- a vesicular outgrowth of a plasma or nuclear membrane
bleed ['blēd] -vb
- to emit or lose blood
- to sacrifice one's blood esp. in battle
- to feel anguish, pain, or sympathy
- a heart that bleed s at a friend's misfortune
- to escape by oozing or flowing (as from a wound)
- to spread into or through something gradually : seep
- foreign policy bleed s into economic policy -- J. B. Judis
- to give up some constituent (as sap or dye) by exuding or diffusing it
- to pay out or give money
- to have money extorted
- to be printed so as to run off one or more edges of the page after trimming
- to remove or draw blood from
- to get or extort money from esp. over a prolonged period
- to draw sap from (a tree)
- to extract or let out some or all of a contained substance from
- to extract or cause to escape from a container
- to diminish gradually usu. used with off
- a pilot bleed ing off airspeed
- to lose rapidly and uncontrollably
- the company was bleed ing money
- sap
- cost overruns...bleed other programs -- Alex Roland
- to cause (as a printed illustration) to bleed
- printed matter (as an illustration) that bleeds
- the part of a bleed trimmed off
- the escape of blood from vessels : hemorrhage
bleed·er -n
- one that bleeds
- hemophiliac
- rotter
- bloke
bleed·ing ['blē-diŋ, -dᵊn] -adj or adv
- bloody used as an intensive
bleeding heart -n
- a garden plant ( Dicentra spectabilis) of the fumitory family with racemes of usu. deep pink or white drooping heart-shaped flowers
- any of several plants (genus Dicentra)
- a person who shows extravagant sympathy esp. for an object of alleged persecution
bleep ['blēp] -n
- a short high-pitched sound (as from electronic equipment)
- used in place of an obscene or vulgar expletive
- blip
- used in place of an expletive
blem·ish ['ble-mish] -vt
- to spoil by a flaw
blemish -n
- a noticeable imperfection
- one that seriously impairs appearance
blench ['blench] -vi
- to draw back or turn aside from lack of courage : flinch
- bleach, whiten
blend ['blend] -vb
- mix
- to combine or associate so that the separate constituents or the line of demarcation cannot be distinguished
- to prepare by thoroughly intermingling different varieties or grades
- to mingle intimately or unobtrusively
- to combine into an integrated whole
- to produce a harmonious effect
- : something produced by blending: as
- a product prepared by blending
- a word (as brunch) produced by combining other words or parts of words
- a group of two or more consecutive consonants that begin a syllable
blende ['blend] -n
- sphalerite
blended family -n
- a family that includes children of a previous marriage of one spouse or both
blended whiskey -n
- whiskey blended from two or more straight whiskeys or from whiskey and neutral spirits
blend·er ['blen-dər] -n
- one that blends
- an electric appliance for grinding or mixing
blending inheritance -n
- the expression in offspring of phenotypic characters (as pink flower color from red and white parents) intermediate between those of the parents
- inheritance in a now discarded theory in which the genetic material of offspring was held to be a uniform blend of that of the parents
blen·ny ['ble-nē] -n
- any of numerous usu. small and elongated marine fishes (esp. families Blenniidae and Clinidae) including scaled and scaleless forms
blephar- -comb form
- eyelid
- cilium : flagellum
bleph·a·ro·plast ['ble-fə-rō-,plast] -n
- a basal body esp. of a flagellated cell
bleph·a·ro·plas·ty [-,plas-tē] -n
- plastic surgery on the eyelid esp. to remove fatty or excess tissue
bleph·a·ro·spasm [-,spa-zəm] -n
- spasmodic winking of the eyelids due to contraction of the muscle encircling the orbit
bles·bok ['bles-,bäk] -n
- a So. African antelope ( Damaliscus dorcassyn. D. pygargus) having a large white patch down the center of the face
bless ['bles] -vt
- to hallow or consecrate by religious rite or word
- to hallow with the sign of the cross
- to invoke divine care for used in the phrase bless you to wish good health esp. to one who has just sneezed
- praise, glorify
- to speak well of : approve
- to confer prosperity or happiness upon
- protect, preserve
- endow, favor
- bless ed with athletic ability
bless·ed ['ble-səd] -adj, adv, n
- held in reverence : venerated
- honored in worship : hallowed
- beatific
- of or enjoying happiness
- enjoying the bliss of heaven used as a title for a beatified person
- bringing pleasure, contentment, or good fortune
- used as an intensive
- never had one blessed minute of instruction -- Charles Scribner Jr.
Bless·ed Sacrament ['ble-səd-] -n
- the Communion elements
- the consecrated host
bless·ing -n
- the act or words of one that blesses
- approval, encouragement
- a thing conducive to happiness or welfare
- grace said at a meal
bleth·er ['bla-thər] -vi, n
(variant of blather)
- to talk foolishly at length often used with on
BLEVE -abbr
- boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
blew ['blō] -vb
(variant of blow)
- to be in motion
- to move with speed or force
- to move or run quickly
- the linebacker blew past the tackle
- to send forth a current of air or other gas
- to make a sound by or as if by blowing
- sound
- boast
- to talk windily
- pant, gasp
- to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole
- to move or be carried by or as if by wind
- erupt, explode
- to melt when overloaded often used with out
- to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture usu. used with out
- to set (gas or vapor) in motion
- the fan blew hot air on us
- to act on with a current of gas or vapor
- the breeze blew my hair dry
- to play or sound on (a wind instrument)
- to play (as a note) on a wind instrument
- to spread by report
- damn
- to drive with a current of gas or vapor
- the storm blew the boat off course
- to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air
- to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing
- to distend with or as if with gas
- to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air
- to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
- to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
- to put out of breath with exertion
- to let (as a horse) pause to catch the breath
- to expend (as money) extravagantly
- to treat with unusual expenditure
- to cause (a fuse) to blow
- to rupture by too much pressure
- botch
- to fail to keep or hold
- to leave hurriedly
- to propel with great force or speed
- blew a fastball by the batter
- a blowing of wind esp. when strong or violent
- brag, boasting
- an act or instance of blowing
- the time during which air is forced through molten metal to refine it
- the quantity of metal refined during that time
- cocaine
- flower, bloom
- blossoms
- bloom
- a forcible stroke delivered with a part of the body or with an instrument
- a hostile act or state : combat
- a forcible or sudden act or effort : assault
- an unfortunate or calamitous happening
- failure to land the job came as a blow
blight ['blīt] -n
- a disease or injury of plants marked by the formation of lesions, withering, and death of parts (as leaves and tubers)
- an organism (as an insect or a fungus) that causes blight
- something that frustrates plans or hopes
- something that impairs or destroys
- a deteriorated condition
- to affect (as a plant) with blight
- to impair the quality or effect of
- the condition that has blight ed his son's life -- Patricia Guthrie
- to suffer from or become affected with blight
blight·er ['blī-tər] -n
- one that blights
- a disliked or contemptible person
- fellow, guy
Blighty ['blī-tē] -n
- one's native land (as England)
blimp ['blimp] -n
- an airship that maintains its form by pressure from contained gas
- colonel blimp
blimp·ish ['blim-pish] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or suggesting a Colonel Blimp
blin ['blin] -n
- a thin often buckwheat pancake usu. filled (as with sour cream) and folded
blind ['blīnd] -adj, adv, n
- sightless
- having less than of normal vision in the more efficient eye when refractive defects are fully corrected by lenses
- of or relating to sightless persons
- unable or unwilling to discern or judge
- blind to a lover's faults
- unquestioning
- having no regard to rational discrimination, guidance, or restriction
- lacking a directing or controlling consciousness
- drunk
- made or done without sight of certain objects or knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias
- having no knowledge of information that may cause bias during the course of an experiment or test
- physicians blind to whether the test drug is administered
- : defective: as
- lacking a growing point or producing leaves instead of flowers
- lacking a complete or legible address
- difficult to discern, make out, or discover
- hidden from sight : covered
- having but one opening or outlet
- having no opening for light or passage : blank
- to make blind
- dazzle
- to withhold light from
- hide, conceal
- : something to hinder sight or keep out light: as
- a window shutter
- a roller window shade
- venetian blind
- blinder
- a place of concealment
- a concealing enclosure from which one may shoot game or observe wildlife
- something put forward for the purpose of misleading : subterfuge
- a person who acts as a decoy or distraction
- : blindly: as
- to the point of insensibility
- without seeing outside an airplane
- without knowledge of certain facts that could serve for guidance or cause bias
- used as an intensive
blind alley -n
- a fruitless or mistaken course or direction
blind date -n
- a date between two persons who have not previously met
- either participant in a blind date
blind·er ['blīn-dər] -n
- either of two flaps on a horse's bridle to keep it from seeing objects at its sides
- a limitation or obstruction to sight or discernment
blind·fish ['blīn(d)-,fish] -n
- any of several small fishes with vestigial functionless eyes found usu. in the waters of caves
blind·fold [-,fōld] -vt, adj
- to cover the eyes of with or as if with a bandage
- to hinder from seeing
- to keep from comprehension
blindfold -n
- a bandage for covering the eyes
- something that obscures mental or physical vision
blind gut -n
- a digestive cavity open at only one end
- the cecum of the large intestine
blind·man's buff ['blīn(d)-'manz-] -n
- a group game in which a blindfolded player tries to catch and identify another player called also blindman's bluff
blind pig -n
- blind tiger
blind·side ['blīn(d)-,sīd] -vt
- to hit unexpectedly from or as if from the blind side
- blindside the quarterback
- to surprise unpleasantly
blind side -n
- the side away from which one is looking
- the side on which one that is blind in one eye cannot see
blind spot -n
- the small circular area at the back of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eyeball and which is devoid of rods and cones and is not sensitive to light called also optic disk
- a portion of a field that cannot be seen or inspected with available equipment
- an area in which one fails to exercise judgment or discrimination
blind tiger -n
- a place that sells intoxicants illegally
blind trust -n
- an arrangement in which the financial holdings of a person in an influential position are placed in the control of a fiduciary in order to avoid a possible conflict of interest
blind·worm ['blīnd-,wərm] -n
- slowworm
blingbling ['bliŋ-,bliŋ] -n
- flashy jewelry worn esp. as an indication of wealth
- expensive and ostentatious possessions
blink ['bliŋk] -vb
- to look glancingly : peep
- to look with half-shut eyes
- to close and open the eyes involuntarily
- to shine dimly or intermittently
- to look with too little concern
- to look with surprise or dismay
- yield, give in
- each side waiting for the other to blink
- to cause to blink
- to remove (as tears) from the eye by blinking
- to deny recognition to
- glimpse, glance
- glimmer, sparkle
- a usu. involuntary shutting and opening of the eye
- iceblink
blink·er ['bliŋ-kər] -n
- one that blinks
- a light that flashes off and on (as for the directing of traffic or the coded signaling of messages)
- blinder
- a cloth hood with shades projecting at the sides of the eye openings used on skittish racehorses usu. used in pl.
- blinder
blinker -vt
- to put blinders on
blink·ered ['bliŋ-kərd] -adj
- limited in scope or understanding : narrow-minded
- fitted with blinders
blin·tze ['blin(t)-sə] -n
- a thin usu. wheat-flour pancake folded to form a casing (as for cheese or fruit) and then sauteed or baked
blip ['blip] -n
- a trace on a display screen (as an oscilloscope)
- a spot on a radar screen
- a short crisp sound
- an interruption of the sound received in a radio or television program or occurring in a recording as a result of blipping
- a transient sharp movement up or down (as of a quantity commonly shown on a graph)
- something relatively small or inconsequential within a larger context
- made only a blip on the political scene
- to remove (recorded sound) from a recording so that there is an interruption of the sound in the reproduction
- a censor blipped the swearwords
bliss ['blis] -n
- complete happiness
- paradise, heaven
blissedout ['blist-'au̇t] -adj
- experiencing bliss : ecstatic
bliss·ful ['blis-fəl] -adj, adv, n
- full of, marked by, or causing bliss
- happily benighted
Blist ['bē-,list] -n
- a list or group of individuals who are prominent but not important or popular enough to be on the A-list
blis·ter ['blis-tər] -n, adj
- an elevation of the epidermis containing watery liquid
- an enclosed raised spot (as in paint) resembling a blister
- an agent (as lewisite) that causes blistering
- a fungal disease of plants marked by raised patches on the leaves
- any of various structures that bulge out (as a gunner's compartment on a bomber)
blister [-t(ə-)riŋ] -vb
- to become affected with a blister
- to raise a blister on
- lambaste
blister beetle -n
- a beetle (as the Spanish fly) used medicinally dried and powdered to raise blisters on the skin
- any of a family (Meloidae) of soft-bodied beetles whose blood contains cantharidin
blis·ter·ing [-t(ə-)riŋ-lē] -adj, adv
- extremely intense or severe
- very rapid
blister pack -n
- a package holding and displaying merchandise in a clear plastic case sealed to a sheet of cardboard
blister rust -n
- any of several diseases of pines that are caused by rust fungi (genus Cronartium) in the aecial stage and that affect the sapwood and inner bark and produce blisters externally
blithe ['blīth, 'blīth] -adj, adv
- of a happy lighthearted character or disposition
- lacking due thought or consideration : casual, heedless
blith·er ['bli-thər] -vi, n, adv
- blather
blithe·some ['blīth-səm, 'blīth-] -adj, adv
- gay, merry
BLitt -abbr
- bachelor of letters; bachelor of literature
blitz ['blits] -n, vb
- blitzkrieg
- an intensive aerial military campaign
- air raid
- an intensive campaign or attack : a sudden overwhelming bombardment
- a rush of the passer by a defensive linebacker, back, or end in football
blitzed ['blitst] -adj
- intoxicated by drugs or alcohol : drunk, high
blitz·krieg [-,krēg] -n, vt
- war conducted with great speed and force
- a violent surprise offensive by massed air forces and mechanized ground forces in close coordination
- blitz
bliz·zard ['bli-zərd] -n, adj
- a long severe snowstorm
- an intensely strong cold wind filled with fine snow
- an overwhelming rush or deluge
- a blizzard of mail around the holidays
blk -abbr
- black
- block
- bulk
BLM -abbr
- Bureau of Land Management
bloat ['blōt] -adj
- bloated, puffy
- to make turgid or swollen
- to cause abdominal distension in
- to fill to capacity or overflowing
- swell
- one that is bloated
- unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement
- digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and esp. cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
bloat·ed -adj
- being much larger than what is warranted
- inflated
- obnoxiously vain
bloat·er ['blō-tər] -n
- a large fat herring or mackerel lightly salted and briefly smoked
bloater -n
- a small silvery cisco ( Coregonus hoyi) of the Great Lakes having oily flesh
blob ['bläb] -n
- a small drop or lump of something viscid or thick
- a daub or spot of color
- something ill-defined or amorphous
- to mark with blobs : splotch
bloc ['bläk] -n
- a temporary combination of parties in a legislative assembly
- a group of legislators who act together for some common purpose irrespective of party lines
- a combination of persons, groups, or nations forming a unit with a common interest or purpose
- a group of nations united by treaty or agreement for mutual support or joint action
block ['bläk] -n
- : a compact usu. solid piece of substantial material esp. when worked or altered to serve a particular purpose: as
- the piece of wood on which the neck of a person condemned to be beheaded is laid for execution
- a mold or form on which articles are shaped or displayed
- a hollow rectangular building unit usu. of artificial material
- a lightweight usu. cubical and solid wooden or plastic building toy that is usu. provided in sets
- the casting that contains the cylinders of an internal combustion engine
- starting block
- obstacle
- an obstruction of an opponent's play in sports
- a halting or impeding of the progress or movement of an opponent in football by use of the body
- interruption of normal physiological function (as of a tissue or organ)
- heart block
- local anesthesia (as by injection) produced by interruption of the flow of impulses along a nerve
- interruption or cessation esp. of train of thought by competing thoughts or psychological suppression
- head
- threatened to knock his block off
- a wooden or metal case enclosing one or more pulleys and having a hook, eye, or strap by which it may be attached
- a piece of material (as wood or linoleum) having on its surface a hand-cut design from which impressions are to be printed
- a usu. rectangular space (as in a city) enclosed by streets and occupied by or intended for buildings
- the distance along one of the sides of such a block
- a large building divided into separate functional units
- a line of row houses
- a distinctive part of a building or integrated group of buildings
- a platform from which property is sold at auction
- a quantity, number, or section of things dealt with as a unit
- bloc
- to make unsuitable for passage or progress by obstruction
- blockade
- to hinder the passage, progress, or accomplishment of by or as if by interposing an obstruction
- to shut off from view
- to interfere usu. legitimately with (as an opponent) in various games or sports
- to prevent normal functioning or action of
- to restrict the exchange of (as currency or checks)
- to mark or indicate the outline or chief lines of
- to shape on, with, or as if with a block
- to secure, support, or provide with a block
- to work out or chart the movements of (as stage performers) often used with out
- to make (two or more lines of writing or type) flush at the left or at both left and right
- to block an opponent in sports
block·ade [blä-'kād] -vt, n
- to subject to a blockade
- block, obstruct
blockade -n
- the isolation by a warring nation of an enemy area (as a harbor) by troops or warships to prevent passage of persons or supplies
- a restrictive measure designed to obstruct the commerce and communications of an unfriendly nation
- something that blocks
- interruption of normal physiological function (as transmission of nerve impulses) of a cellular receptor, tissue, or organ
- inhibition of a physiologically active substance (as a hormone)
block·aderun·ner [-'kād-,rə-nər] -n
- a ship or person that runs through a blockade
block·age ['blä-kij] -n
- an act or instance of obstructing : the state of being blocked
- a blockage in a coronary artery
block and tackle -n
- pulley blocks with associated rope or cable for hoisting or hauling
block·bust·er ['bläk-,bəs-tər] -n
- a very large high-explosive bomb
- one that is notably expensive, effective, successful, large, or extravagant
- one who engages in blockbusting
block·bust·ing [-tiŋ] -n
- profiteering by inducing property owners to sell hastily and often at a loss by appeals to fears of depressed values because of threatened minority encroachment and then reselling at inflated prices
block diagram -n
- a diagram (as of a system, process, or program) in which labeled figures (as rectangles) and interconnecting lines represent the relationship of parts
blocked ['bläkt] -adj
- affected by a psychological block
block grant -n
- an unrestricted federal grant
block·head ['bläk-,hed] -n
- a stupid person
block·house [-,hau̇s] -n
- a structure of heavy timbers formerly used for military defense with sides loopholed and pierced for gunfire and often with a projecting upper story
- a small easily defended building for protection from enemy fire
- a building usu. of reinforced concrete serving as an observation point for an operation likely to be accompanied by heat, blast, or radiation hazard
block·ish ['blä-kish] -adj
- resembling a block
block letter -n
- an often hand-drawn simple capital letter composed of strokes of uniform thickness
block party -n
- an outdoor public party put on by the residents of a city block or neighborhood
block plane -n
- a small plane made with the blade set at a lower pitch than other planes and used chiefly on end grains of wood
blocky ['blä-kē] -adj
- resembling a block in form : chunky
- filled with or made up of blocks or patches
blog ['blȯg, 'bläg] -n
- a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer
- the contents of such a site
blog·o·sphere ['blä-gə-,sfir] -n
- all of the blogs on the Internet as a collective whole
bloke ['blōk] -n
- man, fellow
blond ['bländ] -adj
- of a flaxen, golden, light auburn, or pale yellowish-brown color
- having blond hair spelled blond when used of a boy or man and often blonde when used of a girl or woman
- of a light color
- of the color blond
- made light-colored by bleaching
- a person having blond hair spelled blond when used of a boy or man and usu. blonde when used of a girl or woman
- a light yellowish brown to dark grayish yellow
blood ['bləd] -n
- the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body
- a comparable fluid of an invertebrate
- a fluid resembling blood
- the shedding of blood
- the taking of life
- lifeblood
- life
- human stock or lineage
- royal lineage
- relationship by descent from a common ancestor : kinship
- persons related through common descent : kindred
- honorable or high birth or descent
- descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree
- blood regarded as the seat of the emotions : temper
- lust
- a showy foppish man : rake
- members of a team, staff, or organization : personnel
- a company in need of new blood
- a black American male used esp. among blacks
- to stain or wet with blood
- bleed
- to expose (a hunting dog) to sight, scent, or taste of the blood of its prey
- to give experience to
- troops blood ed in battle
bloodandguts ['blə-dᵊn-'gəts] -adj
- marked by great vigor, violence, or fierceness
blood·bath ['bləd-,bath, -,bäth] -n
- a great slaughter
- a notably fierce, violent, or destructive contest or struggle
- the campaign has become a bloodbath
- a major economic disaster
bloodbrain barrier ['bləd-'brān-] -n
- a naturally occurring barrier created by the modification of brain capillaries (as by reduction in fenestration and formation of tight cell-to-cell contacts) that prevents many substances from leaving the blood and crossing the capillary walls into the brain tissues
blood brother -n
- a brother by birth
- one of two men pledged to mutual loyalty by a ceremonial use of each other's blood
blood cell -n
- a cell normally present in blood
blood count -n
- the determination of the blood cells in a definite volume of blood
- the number of cells so determined
blood·cur·dling ['bləd-,kərd-liŋ, -,kər-dᵊl-iŋ] -adj
- arousing fright or horror
blood doping -n
- a technique for temporarily improving athletic performance in which oxygen-carrying red blood cells from blood previously withdrawn from an athlete are reinjected just before an event called also blood packing
blood·ed ['blə-dəd] -adj
- having blood of a specified kind used in combination
- being entirely or largely purebred
blood feud -n
- a feud between different clans or families
blood fluke -n
- schistosome
blood group -n
- one of the classes (as those designated A, B, AB, or O) into which individuals or their blood can be separated on the basis of the presence or absence of specific antigens in the blood called also blood type
blood·guilt ['bləd-,gilt] -n, adj
- guilt resulting from bloodshed
blood·hound ['bləd-,hau̇nd] -n
- any of a breed of large powerful hounds of European origin remarkable for acuteness of smell
- a person keen in pursuit
blood·less ['bləd-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- deficient in or free from blood
- not accompanied by loss or shedding of blood
- lacking in spirit or vitality
- lacking in human feeling
blood·let·ting [-,le-tiŋ] -n
- phlebotomy
- bloodshed
- elimination of personnel or resources
blood·line [-,līn] -n
- a sequence of direct ancestors esp. in a pedigree
- family, strain
blood·lust [-,ləst] -n
- desire for bloodshed
blood·mo·bile [-mō-,bēl] -n
- an automotive vehicle staffed and equipped for collecting blood from donors
blood money -n
- money obtained at the cost of another's life
- money paid (as by a killer or the killer's clan) to the family of a person who has been killed
blood orange -n
- a cultivated sweet orange having fruit with usu. red pulp
- its fruit
blood plasma -n
- the pale yellow fluid of whole blood that consists of water and its dissolved constituents including esp. proteins (as albumin, fibrinogen, and globulins)
blood platelet -n
- platelet
blood poisoning -n
- septicemia
blood pressure -n
- pressure that is exerted by the blood upon the walls of the blood vessels and esp. arteries and that varies with the muscular efficiency of the heart, the blood volume and viscosity, the age and health of the individual, and the state of the vascular wall
blood·red ['bləd-'red] -adj
- having the color of blood
blood·root [-,rüt, -,ru̇t] -n
- a plant ( Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family having a red root and sap and bearing a solitary lobed leaf and white flower in early spring called also sanguinaria
blood sausage -n
- very dark sausage containing a large proportion of blood called also blood pudding
blood serum -n
- the clear yellowish fluid that remains from blood plasma after clotting factors (as fibrinogen and prothrombin) have been removed by clot formation
blood·shed ['bləd-,shed] -n
- the shedding of blood
- the taking of life : slaughter
blood·shot [-,shät] -adj
- inflamed to redness
blood sport -n
- a sport or contest (as hunting or cockfighting) involving bloodshed
blood·stain [-,stān] -n
- a discoloration caused by blood
blood·stained [-,stānd] -adj
- stained with blood
- involved with slaughter
- a bloodstained chronicle of war
blood·stock [-,stäk] -n
- horses of Thoroughbred breeding
blood·stone [-,stōn] -n
- a green chalcedony sprinkled with red spots resembling blood called also heliotrope
blood·stream [-,strēm] -n
- the flowing blood in a circulatory system
- a mainstream of power or vitality
- introduce into the economic bloodstream a large amount of money -- Harper's
blood·suck·er [-,sə-kər] -n, adj
- an animal that sucks blood
- leech
- a person who sponges or preys on another
blood sugar -n
- the glucose in the blood
- its concentration (as in milligrams per 100 milliliters)
blood test -n
- a test of the blood
- a serologic test for the presence of substances indicative of disease (as syphilis) or disease-causing agents (as HIV)
blood thinner -n, adj
- a drug used to prevent the formation of blood clots by hindering coagulation of the blood
blood·thirsty ['bləd-,thər-stē] -adj, adv, n
- eager for or marked by the shedding of blood, violence, or killing
bloodtyp·ing [-,tī-piŋ] -n
- the action or process of determining an individual's blood group
blood vessel -n
- any of the vessels through which blood circulates in the body
blood·worm ['bləd-,wərm] -n
- any of various reddish annelid worms (as of genera Glyceraor Tubifex) often used as bait
- any of several strongyle worms (genus Strongylus) that are parasitic in the large intestine of horses
bloody ['blə-dē] -adj, adv, n
- containing or made up of blood
- of or contained in the blood
- smeared or stained with blood
- accompanied by or involving bloodshed
- marked by great slaughter
- murderous
- merciless, cruel
- bloodred
- damned
- often used as an intensive
- to make bloody or bloodred
- harm, damage
- an administration bloodied by scandal
- used as an intensive
Bloody Mary -n
- a cocktail consisting essentially of vodka and usu. spiced tomato juice
bloodymind·ed [,blə-dē-'mīn-dəd] -adj, n
- inclined towards violence or bloodshed
- stubbornly contrary or obstructive : cantankerous
bloody murder -adv
- in a loud and violent manner
- ran off, screaming bloody murder
- in vehement protest
- screaming bloody murder over the pay cut
bloody shirt -n
- something intended to stir up or revive partisan animosity usu. used in the phrase wave the bloody shirt
bloo·ey ['blü-ē] -adj or adv
- haywire, awry
bloom ['blüm] -n
- a mass of wrought iron from the forge or puddling furnace
- a bar of iron or steel hammered or rolled from an ingot
- flower
- the flowering state
- a period of flowering
- a rapid and excessive growth of a plankton population (as of algae or dinoflagellates)
- a state or time of beauty, freshness, and vigor
- a state or time of high development or achievement
- : a surface coating or appearance: as
- a delicate powdery coating on some fruits and leaves
- a rosy appearance of the cheeks
- an outward evidence of freshness or healthy vigor
- a cloudiness on a film of varnish or lacquer
- a grayish discoloration on chocolate
- glare caused by an object reflecting too much light into a television camera
- to produce or yield flowers
- to support abundant plant life
- to mature into achievement of one's potential
- to flourish in youthful beauty, freshness, or excellence
- to shine out : glow
- to appear or occur unexpectedly or in remarkable quantity or degree
- to become densely populated with microorganisms and esp. plankton used of bodies of water
- to cause to bloom
- to give bloom to
bloom·er ['blü-mər] -n
- a plant that blooms
- a person who reaches full competence or maturity
- he was a late bloomer as a writer
- a stupid blunder
bloo·mer ['blü-mər] -n
- a costume for women consisting of a skirt over long loose trousers gathered closely about the ankles
- full loose trousers gathered at the knee formerly worn by women for athletics
- underpants of similar design worn chiefly by girls and women
bloom·ing ['blü-mən, -miŋ] -adj or adv
- used as a generalized intensive
bloomy ['blü-mē] -adj
- full of bloom
- covered with bloom
- showing freshness or vitality
- all the bloomy flush of life is fled -- Oliver Goldsmith
bloop ['blüp] -n, vt
- blooper
bloop·er ['blü-pər] -n
- a fly ball hit barely beyond a baseball infield
- a high baseball pitch lobbed to the batter
- an embarrassing public blunder
blos·som ['blä-səm] -n, adj
- the flower of a seed plant
- the mass of such flowers on a single plant
- the state of bearing flowers
- a peak period or stage of development
blossom -vi
- bloom
- to come into one's own : develop
- to become evident
- to make an appearance
blot ['blät] -n
- a soiling or disfiguring mark : spot
- a mark of reproach : moral flaw
- a usu. nitrocellulose or nylon sheet that contains spots of immobilized macromolecules (as of DNA, RNA, or protein) or their fragments and is used to identify specific components of the spots by applying a molecular probe (as a complementary nucleic acid or a radio labeled antibody)
- to spot, stain, or spatter with a discoloring substance
- mar
- to stain with infamy
- to dry (as writing) with an absorbing agent
- to remove with absorbing material
- blotting up spilled water
- to make a blot
- to become marked with a blot
- a lone backgammon man exposed to capture
- a weak or exposed point
blotch ['bläch] -vt
- to mark or mar with blotches
- imperfection, blemish
- a spot or mark (as of color or ink) esp. when large or irregular
blot out -vt
- to make obscure, insignificant, or inconsequential
- wipe out, destroy
blot·ter ['blä-tər] -n
- a piece of blotting paper
- a book in which entries (as of transactions or occurrences) are made temporarily pending their transfer to permanent record books
blotting paper -n
- a spongy unsized paper for absorbing ink
blot·to ['blä-(,)tō] -adj
- drunk
blouse ['blau̇s also 'blau̇z] -n, adj
- a long loose overgarment that resembles a shirt or smock and is worn esp. by workmen, artists, and peasants
- the jacket of a uniform
- a usu. loose-fitting garment esp. for women that covers the body from the neck to the waist
- to fall in a fold
- coats that blouse above the hip
- to cause to blouse
blou·son ['blau̇-,sän, 'blü-,zän] -n
- a garment (as a dress) having a close waistband with blousing of material over it
blo·vi·ate ['blō-vē-,āt] -vi, n
- to speak or write verbosely and windily
blow ['blō] -vb
- to be in motion
- to move with speed or force
- to move or run quickly
- the linebacker blew past the tackle
- to send forth a current of air or other gas
- to make a sound by or as if by blowing
- sound
- boast
- to talk windily
- pant, gasp
- to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole
- to move or be carried by or as if by wind
- erupt, explode
- to melt when overloaded often used with out
- to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture usu. used with out
- to set (gas or vapor) in motion
- the fan blew hot air on us
- to act on with a current of gas or vapor
- the breeze blew my hair dry
- to play or sound on (a wind instrument)
- to play (as a note) on a wind instrument
- to spread by report
- damn
- to drive with a current of gas or vapor
- the storm blew the boat off course
- to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air
- to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing
- to distend with or as if with gas
- to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air
- to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
- to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
- to put out of breath with exertion
- to let (as a horse) pause to catch the breath
- to expend (as money) extravagantly
- to treat with unusual expenditure
- to cause (a fuse) to blow
- to rupture by too much pressure
- botch
- to fail to keep or hold
- to leave hurriedly
- to propel with great force or speed
- blew a fastball by the batter
- a blowing of wind esp. when strong or violent
- brag, boasting
- an act or instance of blowing
- the time during which air is forced through molten metal to refine it
- the quantity of metal refined during that time
- cocaine
- flower, bloom
- blossoms
- bloom
- a forcible stroke delivered with a part of the body or with an instrument
- a hostile act or state : combat
- a forcible or sudden act or effort : assault
- an unfortunate or calamitous happening
- failure to land the job came as a blow
blow away -vt
- to dissipate or remove as if with a current of air
- their doubts were blown away
- to kill by gunfire : shoot dead
- to impress very strongly and usu. favorably
- to defeat soundly
- blew their rivals away in the first game
blow·back ['blō-,bak] -n
- an unforeseen and unwanted effect, result, or set of repercussions
blow·by ['blō-,bī] -n
- leakage of combustion gases between a piston and the cylinder wall into the crankcase in an automobile
blowbyblow ['blō-bī-'blō, -bə-] -adj
- minutely detailed
blow·down ['blō-,dau̇n] -n
- an instance of trees being blown down by the wind
- a tree blown down
- an area of such trees
blowdried ['blō-,drīd] -adj
- having blow-dried hair
- being or appearing well-groomed but superficial or vacuous
blowdry [-,drī] -vt, n
- to dry and usu. style (hair) with a blow-dryer
- to dry hair with a blow-dryer
blowdry·er [-,drī(-ə)r] -n
- a handheld hair dryer
blow·er ['blō(-ə)r] -n
- one that blows
- a device for producing a current of air or gas
- braggart
- telephone
blow·fish ['blō-,fish] -n
- puffer fish
blow·fly [-,flī] -n
- any of a family (Calliphoridae) of dipteran flies (as the bluebottle or screwworm) that deposit their eggs esp. on meat or in wounds
blow·gun [-,gən] -n
- a tube through which a projectile (as a dart) may be impelled by the force of the breath
blow·hard [-,härd] -n
- braggart
- windbag
blow·hole [-,hōl] -n
- a hole in metal caused by a bubble of gas captured during solidification
- a nostril in the top of the head of a cetacean and esp. a whale
blow in -vi
- to arrive casually or unexpectedly
blow job -n
- an act of fellatio
blown ['blōn] -adj
- swollen
- affected with bloat
- being out of breath
blow off -vt
- to refuse to take notice of, honor, or deal with : ignore
- decided to blow off two billion viewers -- Harry Homburg
- to end a relationship with
- to outperform in a contest
- to fail to attend or show up for
- blew off an official dinner
blow·out ['blō-,au̇t] -n
- a festive social affair
- a bursting of a container (as a tire) by pressure of the contents on a weak spot
- an uncontrolled eruption of an oil or gas well
- an easy or one-sided victory
- a valley or depression created by the wind in areas of shifting sand or of light cultivated soil
blow out -vt
- to extinguish by a gust
- to dissipate (itself) by blowing used of storms
- to defeat easily
- to damage severely
- she blew out her knee in the race
- to become extinguished by a gust
- to erupt out of control used of an oil or gas well
blow over -vi
- to pass away without effect
blow·pipe ['blō-,pīp] -n
- a small tubular instrument for directing a jet of air or other gas into a flame so as to concentrate and increase the heat
- blowgun
- a tubular instrument used for revealing or cleaning a bodily cavity by forcing air into it
- a long metal tube on the end of which a glassmaker gathers a quantity of molten glass and through which he blows to expand and shape it
blow·sy ['blau̇-zē] -adj
- having a sloppy or unkempt appearance or aspect : frowsy
- being coarse and ruddy of complexion
blow·torch ['blō-,tȯrch] -n
- a small burner having a device to intensify combustion by means of a blast of air or oxygen, usu. including a fuel tank pressurized by a hand pump, and used esp. in plumbing
blow·up ['blō-,əp] -n
- : a blowing up: as
- explosion
- an outburst of temper
- enlargement
blowup ['blō-,əp] -adj
- inflatable
blow up -vt
- to build up or tout to an unreasonable extent
- advertisers blowing up their products
- to rend apart, shatter, or destroy by explosion
- to fill up with a gas (as air)
- to make a photographic enlargement of
- to bring into existence by blowing of wind
- explode
- to be disrupted or destroyed (as by explosion)
- to lose self-control
- to become violently angry
- to become or come into being by or as if by blowing of wind
- to become filled with a gas
- to become expanded to unreasonable proportions
blowy ['blō-ē] -adj
- windy
- readily blown about
BLS -abbr
- bachelor of liberal studies
- bachelor of library science
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
BLT [,bē-(,)el-'tē] -n
- a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich
blub ['bləb] -vi
- blubber
blub·ber ['blə-bər] -vb
- to weep noisily
- to swell, distort, or wet with weeping
- to utter while weeping
blubber -n
- the fat of whales and other large marine mammals
- excessive fat on the body
- the action of blubbering
blub·bery ['blə-b(ə-)rē] -adj
- having or characterized by blubber
- puffed out : thick
blu·cher ['blü-chər also -kər] -n
- a shoe having the tongue and vamp cut in one piece and the quarters lapped over the vamp and laced together for closing
bludge ['bləj] -vb, n
- to avoid work or responsibility
- sponge
- sponge
blud·geon ['blə-jən] -n
- a short stick that usu. has one thick or loaded end and is used as a weapon
- something used to attack or bully
bludgeon -vt
- to hit with heavy impact
- to attack or overcome by aggressive argument : bully
blue ['blü] -adj, adv, n
- of the color blue
- bluish
- the blue haze of tobacco smoke
- discolored by or as if by bruising
- bluish gray
- low in spirits : melancholy
- marked by low spirits : depressing
- wearing blue
- learned, intellectual
- puritanical
- profane, indecent
- off-color, risque
- of, relating to, or used in blues
- tending to support Democrats in a general election
- a color whose hue is that of the clear sky or that of the portion of the color spectrum lying between green and violet
- a pigment or dye that colors blue
- bluing
- blue clothing or cloth
- a blue costume or uniform
- a Union soldier in the American Civil War
- the Union army
- sky
- the far distance
- disappeared into the blue
- sea
- a blue object
- bluestocking
- any of numerous small chiefly blue butterflies (family Lycaenidae)
- bluefish
- blue cheese
- to make blue
- to turn blue
blue baby -n
- an infant with cyanosis usu. from a congenital heart defect in which venous and arterial blood are mingled
blue·back herring ['blü-,bak-] -n
- an anadromous clupeid fish ( Alosa aestivalis) of the Atlantic coast of No. America having a dark blue or bluish-gray back
blue·beard ['blü-,bird] -n
- a man who marries and kills one wife after another
blue·bell [-,bel] -n
- any of various bellflowers
- harebell
- : any of various plants bearing blue bell-shaped flowers: as
- a European herb ( Hyacinthoides nonscriptasyn. Scilla nonscripta) of the lily family having scapose racemes of drooping bell-shaped flowers called also wild hyacinth
- a glabrous erect eastern U.S. herb ( Mertensia virginica) of the borage family with entire leaves and showy blue flowers pink in the bud called also Virginia bluebells
blue·ber·ry ['blü-,ber-ē, -,be-rē, -b(ə-)rē] -n
- the edible blue or blackish berry of any of several No. American plants (genus Vaccinium) of the heath family
- a low or tall shrub producing these berries
blue·bird [-,bərd] -n
- any of three small No. American thrushes ( Sialia currucoides, S. mexicana,and S. sialis) that are blue above and reddish brown or pale blue below
blue blood [-'blə-dəd] -n, adj
- membership in a noble or socially prominent family
- a member of a noble or socially prominent family
blue·bon·net ['blü-,bä-nət] -n
- a wide flat round cap of blue wool formerly worn in Scotland
- one that wears such a cap
- scot
- either of two low-growing annual lupines ( Lupinus subcarnosusor L. texensis) of Texas with silky foliage and blue flowers
blue book -n
- a register esp. of socially prominent persons
- a book of specialized information often published under government auspices
- a blue-covered booklet used for writing examinations
- a periodically issued price list (as of used cars)
blue·bot·tle ['blü-,bä-tᵊl] -n
- bachelor's button
- any of several blowflies (genus Calliphora) that have the abdomen or the whole body iridescent blue in color and that make a loud buzzing noise in flight
blue catfish -n
- a large bluish catfish ( Ictalurus furcatus) of the Mississippi valley that may weigh over 100 pounds (45 kilograms)
blue cheese -n
- cheese having veins of greenish-blue mold
blue chip -n, adj
- a stock issue of high investment quality that usu. pertains to a substantial well-established company and enjoys public confidence in its worth and stability
- a company that offers such stocks
- a business or undertaking with an outstanding record or likelihood of profitability
- : one that is outstanding: as
- an outstandingly worthwhile or valuable property or asset
- an athlete rated as excellent or as an excellent prospect
bluechip·per ['blü-,chi-pər] -n
- blue chip
blue·coat ['blü-,kōt] -n
- : a person who wears a blue coat: as
- a Union soldier during the American Civil War
- police officer
blue cohosh -n
- a perennial No. American herb ( Caulophyllum thalictroides) of the barberry family that has greenish-yellow or purplish flowers and large blue berrylike fruits
bluecol·lar ['blü-'kä-lər] -adj
- of, relating to, or constituting the class of wage earners whose duties call for the wearing of work clothes or protective clothing
- : having characteristics associated with blue-collar workers: as
- having, showing, or appealing to unpretentious or unsophisticated tastes
- a new bluecollar serial...woven around a minor-league baseball team -- Steven Flax
- dependable and hard-working rather than showy or spectacular
blue corn -n
- Indian corn that has bluish kernels used to make flour and is grown esp. in the southwestern U.S.
blue crab -n
- a large bluish-green edible crab ( Callinectes sapidusof the family Portunidae) of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
blue curls -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- any of several mints (genus Trichostema) with irregular blue flowers
blue devils -n pl
- low spirits : despondency
blueeyed ['blü-,īd] -adj
- having blue eyes
- performed by whites
- white
- a blueeyed imitator of RB stars
blueeyed grass -n
- any of a genus ( Sisyrinchium) of New World herbs of the iris family having grasslike foliage and blue, yellow, or white flowers
blue·fin tuna ['blü-,fin-] -n
- a very large tuna ( Thunnus thynnus) that is an important food and game fish called also bluefin
blue·fish [-,fish] -n
- an active food and game marine fish ( Pomatomus saltatrix) that is bluish above with silvery sides
- any of various dark or bluish fishes (as the pollack)
blue flag -n
- a blue-flowered iris
- a common iris ( Iris versicolor) chiefly of the eastern U.S. with a root formerly used medicinally
blue flu -n
- a sick-out staged by police officers
blue·gill ['blü-,gil] -n
- a common sunfish ( Lepomis macrochirus) of the eastern and central U.S. sought for food and sport
blue grama -n
- a low-growing perennial grama ( Bouteloua gracilis) having slender curly leaves that is an important forage grass esp. in the Great Plains
blue·grass [-,gras] -n
- any of several grasses (genus Poa) of which some have bluish-green culms
- kentucky bluegrass
- country music played on unamplified stringed instruments (as banjo, fiddle, guitar, and mandolin) and characterized by free improvisation and close usu. high-pitched harmony
bluegreen alga ['blü-'grēn-] -n
- cyanobacterium
blue gum -n
- any of several Australian trees (genus Eucalyptus) that yield valuable timber
blue heeler -n
- australian cattle dog
blue heron -n
- either of two herons with bluish or slaty plumage
- great blue heron
blue·jack·et [-,ja-kət] -n
- an enlisted man in the navy : sailor
blue jay [-,jā] -n
- a crested bright blue No. American jay ( Cyanocitta cristata)
blue jeans [-,jēnd] -n pl, adj
- pants usu. made of blue denim
blue law -n
- one of numerous extremely rigorous laws designed to regulate morals and conduct in colonial New England
- a statute regulating work, commerce, and amusements on Sundays
blue line -n
- either of two blue lines that divide an ice-hockey rink into three equal zones and that separate the offensive and defensive zones from the center-ice neutral zone
blue·lin·er ['blü-,lī-nər] -n
- a defenseman in ice hockey
blue marlin -n
- a large marlin ( Makaira nigricans) that is widely distributed in warm seas and is valued as a sport fish
blue mold -n
- any of various fungi (genera Penicilliumand Peronospora) that produce blue or blue-green surface growths
blue moon -n
- a very long period of time usu. used in the phrase once in a blue moon
- such people happen along only once in a blue moon -- Saturday Rev.
- a second full moon in a calendar month
blue mussel -n
- a widely distributed edible mussel ( Mytilus edulis) having a usu. blue or brownish shell
blue·nose ['blü-,nōz] -n, adj
- a person who advocates a rigorous moral code
blue note -n
- a variable microtonal lowering of the third, seventh, and occas. fifth degrees of the major scale
bluepen·cil ['blü-'pen(t)-səl] -vt, n
- to edit esp. by shortening or deletion
blue pencil -n
- a writing instrument used for editing
- the act or practice of blue-penciling
blue pe·ter [-'pē-tər] -n
- a blue signal flag with a white square in the center used to indicate that a merchant vessel is ready to sail
blue pike -n
- a grayish-blue walleye ( Stizostedion vitreum glaucum) of the Great Lakes region now considered to be extinct
blue plate -adj
- being a main course usu. offered at a special price in a restaurant
blue·point ['blü-,pȯint] -n
- a small oyster ( Crassostrea virginica) typically from the south shore of Long Island
blue point [-,pȯint] -adj, n
- having a bluish-cream body coat with dark gray points
blue·print [-,print] -n, vt
- a photographic print in white on a bright blue ground or blue on a white ground used esp. for copying maps, mechanical drawings, and architects' plans
- something resembling a blueprint (as in serving as a model or providing guidance)
- a detailed plan or program of action
blue racer -n
- a blue or greenish-blue colubrid snake ( Coluber constrictor foxii) occurring chiefly from southern Ontario to Missouri
blueribbon -adj
- of outstanding quality
- consisting of individuals selected for quality, reputation, or authority
blue ribbon -n
- an honor or award gained for preeminence
- a blue ribbon awarded as an honor (as to the first-place winner in a competition)
blues ['blüz] -n pl but sing or pl in constr
- low spirits : melancholy
- suffering a case of the blues
- a song often of lamentation characterized by usu. 12-bar phrases, 3-line stanzas in which the words of the second line usu. repeat those of the first, and continual occurrence of blue notes in melody and harmony
- jazz or popular music using harmonic and phrase structures of blues
blue screen -n
- a photographic technique in which a subject is filmed in front of a blue background so as to allow matte compositing of the film with other footage
- the blue background
blue shark -n
- a chiefly pelagic shark ( Prionace glauca) found in all tropical and temperate seas that occas. attacks humans
blue sheep -n
- bharal
blue·shift ['blü-'shift] -n, adj
- the displacement of the spectrum of an approaching celestial body toward shorter wavelengths
bluesky ['blü-'skī] -adj
- having little or no value
- not grounded in the realities of the present : visionary
bluesky law -n
- a law providing for the regulation of the sale of securities (as stock)
blues·man ['blüz-mən] -n
- a man who plays or sings the blues
blue spruce -n
- a spruce ( Picea pungens) native to the Rocky Mountains that has sharp usu. bluish-gray needles and is often planted as an ornamental
blue·stem ['blü-,stem] -n
- a tall No. American grass ( Andropogon gerardiisyn. A. furcatus) that has smooth bluish leaf sheaths and slender spikes borne in pairs or clusters, is a dominant grass of the orig. tallgrass prairies, and is used for hay and forage called also big bluestem
- little bluestem
blue·stock·ing [-,stä-kiŋ] -n
- a woman having intellectual or literary interests
blue·stone [-,stōn] -n
- a building stone of bluish-gray color
blue streak -n
- something that moves very fast
- a constant stream of words
bluesy ['blü-zē] -adj
- resembling, characteristic of, or suited to the blues
blu·et ['blü-ət] -n
- any of several perennial No. American herbs (genus Hedyotissyn. Houstonia) of the madder family
- one ( Hedyotis caeruleasyn. Houstonia caerulea) having tufted stems and bluish, white, or purplish flowers with yellow centers
blue tang -n
- a surgeonfish ( Acanthurus coeruleus) that is bright blue with darker longitudinal stripes when mature and occurs chiefly from Bermuda to Brazil
blue·tick [-,tik] -n
- any of a breed of tricolor coonhounds of American origin having the white areas of the coat usu. heavily ticked with black
blue·tongue ['blü-,təŋ] -n
- a virus disease chiefly of sheep that is marked by hyperemia, cyanosis, and by swelling and sloughing of the mucous membranes esp. about the mouth and tongue and is caused by a reovirus (species Bluetongue virusof the genus Orbivirus)
blue vitriol -n
- a hydrated copper sulfate CuSO 45H 2O
blue water ['blü-,wȯ-tər, -,wä-] -n, adj
- the open sea
blue·weed ['blü-,wēd] -n
- viper's bugloss
- a small weedy sunflower ( Helianthus ciliaris) of the southwestern U.S. with blue-green or gray-green foliage
blue whale -n
- a very large baleen whale ( Balaenoptera musculussyn. Sibbaldus musculus) that may reach a weight of 150 tons (135 metric tons) and a length of 100 feet (30 meters) and is generally considered the largest living animal
bluewinged teal ['blü-,wiŋ(d)-] -n
- a No. American dabbling duck ( Anas discors) with a blue patch on each wing and in the male a white crescent on each cheek
bluey ['blü-ē] -adj
- bluish
bluff ['bləf] -adj, adv, n
- having a broad flattened front
- rising steeply with a broad flat or rounded front
- good-naturedly frank and outspoken
- a high steep bank : cliff
- to deter or frighten by pretense or a mere show of strength
- deceive
- feign
- the catcher bluff ed a throw to first
- to deceive (an opponent) in cards by a bold bet on an inferior hand
- to bluff someone : act deceptively
- an act or instance of bluffing
- the practice of bluffing
- one who bluffs
blu·ing ['blü-iŋ] -n
- a preparation used in laundering to counteract yellowing of white fabrics
blu·ish ['blü-ish] -adj, n
- somewhat blue : having a tinge of blue
blun·der ['blən-dər] -vb, n, adv
- to move unsteadily or confusedly
- to make a mistake through stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
- to utter stupidly, confusedly, or thoughtlessly
- to make a stupid, careless, or thoughtless mistake in
blunder -n
- a gross error or mistake resulting usu. from stupidity, ignorance, or carelessness
blun·der·buss ['blən-dər-,bəs] -n
- a muzzle-loading firearm with a short barrel and flaring muzzle to facilitate loading
- a blundering person
blunt ['blənt] -adj, adv, n
- slow or deficient in feeling : insensitive
- obtuse in understanding or discernment : dull
- having an edge or point that is not sharp
- abrupt in speech or manner
- being straight to the point : direct
- to make less sharp, definite, or forceful
- to become blunt
- a cigar that has been hollowed out and filled with marijuana
blunt trauma -n
- a usu. serious injury caused by a blunt object or surface
- died of blunt trauma to the head
blur ['blər] -n
- a smear or stain that obscures
- something vaguely or indistinctly perceived
- something moving or occurring too quickly to be clearly seen
- to obscure or blemish by smearing
- sully
- to make dim, indistinct, or vague in outline or character
- to make cloudy or confused
- to make blurs
- to become vague or indistinct
blurb ['blərb] -n
- a short publicity notice (as on a book jacket)
- to describe or praise in a blurb
blur·ry ['blər-ē] -adj, adv, n
- lacking definition or focus
blurt ['blərt] -vt, n
- to utter abruptly and impulsively usu. used with out
blush ['bləsh] -n, adj
- outward appearance : view
- a reddening of the face esp. from shame, modesty, or confusion
- a red or rosy tint
- a cosmetic applied to the face to give a usu. pink color or to accent the cheekbones
- to become red in the face esp. from shame, modesty, or confusion
- to feel shame or embarrassment
- to have a rosy or fresh color : bloom
blush·er ['blə-shər] -n
- one who blushes
- blush
blush wine -n
- any of various pinkish table wines
blus·ter ['bləs-tər] -vb, n, adv
- to talk or act with noisy swaggering threats
- to blow in stormy noisy gusts
- to be windy and boisterous
- to utter with noisy self-assertiveness
- to drive or force by blustering
bluster [-t(ə-)rəs] -n, adj
- a violent boisterous blowing
- violent commotion
- loudly boastful or threatening speech
blvd -abbr
- boulevard