blot
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
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to spot, stain, soil, or the like.
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to darken; make dim; obscure or eclipse (usually followed byout ).
We watched as the moon blotted out the sun.
- Synonyms:
- expunge, erase, efface, obliterate
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to dry with absorbent paper or the like.
to blot the wet pane.
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to remove with absorbent paper or the like.
- Synonyms:
- absorb
verb (used without object)
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to make a blot; spread ink, dye, etc., in a stain.
The more slowly I write, the more this pen blots.
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to become blotted or stained.
This paper blots too easily.
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Chemistry. to transfer an array of separated components of a mixture to a chemically treated paper for analysis.
verb phrase
noun
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Backgammon. an exposed piece liable to be taken or forfeited.
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Archaic. an exposed or weak point, as in an argument or course of action.
noun
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a stain or spot of ink, paint, dirt, etc
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something that spoils or detracts from the beauty or worth of something
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a blemish or stain on one's character or reputation
verb
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(of ink, dye, etc) to form spots or blobs on (a material) or (of a person) to cause such spots or blobs to form on (a material)
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informal to spoil one's reputation by making a mistake, offending against social customs, etc
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(intr) to stain or become stained or spotted
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(tr) to cause a blemish in or on; disgrace
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to soak up (excess ink, etc) by using blotting paper or some other absorbent material
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(of blotting paper or some other absorbent material) to absorb (excess ink, etc)
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to darken or hide completely; obscure; obliterate
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to destroy; annihilate
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noun
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backgammon a man exposed by being placed alone on a point and therefore able to be taken by the other player
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archaic a weak spot
Other Word Forms
- blotless adjective
- blottingly adverb
- blotty adjective
- unblotted adjective
Etymology
Origin of blot1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun blot(te); orign uncertain; perhaps akin to Old Norse blettr “blot, spot, stain”; the verb is derivative of the noun
Origin of blot2
First recorded in 1590–1600; origin uncertain; perhaps from Low German blat, akin to bloot “bare, exposed, unprotected”; possibly cognate with Dutch bloot, German bloss bare
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The only blot on Farhan's copybook - and it may feel hypercritical to highlight it - was an apparent lack of match awareness when he reached three figures off 59 balls.
From BBC
I tried covering my face with a pillow but that didn’t blot out a thing.
From Literature
Until last Sunday, when black towers of smoke blotted out the sun.
From Barron's
I wash each leaf of kale individually before blotting it dry with a paper towel.
From Literature
A 5-2 thrashing by Atletico Madrid in September was an early blot in Alonso's copy book, while even when Madrid were winning games, they were not overly convincing.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
