Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense blots, present participle blotting, past tense, past participle blotted
1. countable noun
If something is a blot on a person's or thing's reputation, it spoils their reputation.
...a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession. [+ on]
This drugs scandal is another blot on the competition. [+ on]
Synonyms: disgrace, spot, fault, stain More Synonyms of blot
2. countable noun
A blot is a drop of liquid that has fallen on to a surface and has dried.
...an ink blot.
Synonyms: spot, mark, patch, smear More Synonyms of blot
3. verb
If you blot a surface, you remove liquid from it by pressing a piece of soft paper or cloth onto it.
Before applying make-up, blot the face with a tissue to remove any excess oils. [VERB noun]
[Also V n adj]
Synonyms: soak up, take up, absorb, draw up More Synonyms of blot
4.
See blot on the landscape
Phrasal verbs:
See blot out
More Synonyms of blot
blot in British English1
(blɒt)
noun
1.
a stain or spot of ink, paint, dirt, etc
2.
something that spoils or detracts from the beauty or worth of something
3.
a blemish or stain on one's character or reputation
verbWord forms: blots, blotting or blotted
4.
(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)
5. blot one's copybook
6. (intransitive)
to stain or become stained or spotted
7. (transitive)
to cause a blemish in or on; disgrace
8.
to soak up (excess ink, etc) by using blotting paper or some other absorbent material
9.
(of blotting paper or some other absorbent material) to absorb (excess ink, etc)
10. (transitive; often foll byout)
a.
to darken or hide completely; obscure; obliterate
b.
to destroy; annihilate
Word origin
C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch bluysterblister
blot in British English2
(blɒt)
noun
1. backgammon
a piece exposed by being placed alone on a point and therefore able to be taken by the other player
2. archaic
a weak spot
Word origin
C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch bloot poor
blot in American English1
(blɑt)
noun
1.
a spot or stain, esp. of ink
2.
anything that spoils or mars, esp. by providing an unpleasant contrast
that shack is a blot on the landscape
3.
a moral stain; disgrace
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈblotted or ˈblotting
4.
to make blots on; spot, stain, or blur
5.
to stain (a reputation); disgrace
6.
to erase or get rid of
memories blotted from one's mind
7.
to dry by soaking up the wet liquid, as with blotting paper
verb intransitive
8.
to make blots
9.
to become blotted
10.
to be absorbent
Idioms:
blot out
Word origin
ME < ?
blot in American English2
(blɑt)
noun
1. Backgammon
an exposed piece, liable to capture
2. Archaic
a weak point; fault; failing
Word origin
prob. < MDu bloot or Dan blot, naked, uncovered
More idioms containing
blot
blot your copybook
a blot on the landscape
Examples of 'blot' in a sentence
blot
At first it helped blot out the pain of losing my ex.
The Sun (2012)
It was so big that it blotted out the sun.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Blend outwards with a brush and blot to remove excess.
The Sun (2012)
The current one has been a blot on one of our most important monuments.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The to keep it looking barely there is blot with tissue lose excess shine.
The Sun (2007)
Instead it will go down as another blot.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
They also come with connection poles and cables as a further blot on the landscape.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The only tiny blot on the landscape is the fact they let in a goal last week.
The Sun (2010)
The only blot on the landscape is that our eldest son is disgusted.
The Sun (2011)
Package holidays and ugly resorts have blotted the landscape and have put off richer buyers.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Others consider it a blot on the landscape that needs to be demolished.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
One blot on a sound game.
The Sun (2012)
There is only one blot on this musical landscape, and it is a sadly predictable one.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
You're on a quest to find something to blot out that pain.
The Sun (2016)
That's practically big enough to blot out the sun.
The Sun (2007)
I was trying to blot out the pain and it worked for a while.
The Sun (2006)
That she was not howled down is almost as disgraceful and yet another blot on the collective reputation of our MPs.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Apply with a brush and blot with a tissue so the mouth is defined and has a little colour but does not look drenched in gloss.
The Sun (2010)
It erased the one great blot on the All Black historical landscape.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But now he's found home, the one blot is the absence of an apprentice.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Apply one layer straight from the barrel, blot with a tissue, then apply another.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
In other languages
blot
British English: blot NOUN
a blot on sth If something is a blot on a person's or thing's reputation, it spoils their reputation.
...a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession.
American English: blot
Brazilian Portuguese: borrão
Chinese: > 污点名誉上的
European Spanish: borrón
French: tache
German: Makel
Italian: macchia
Japanese: 汚点
Korean: 오점
European Portuguese: borrão
Latin American Spanish: borrón
British English: blot VERB
If you blot a surface, you remove liquid from it by pressing a piece of soft paper or cloth onto it.
Before applying make-up, blot the face with a tissue to remove any excess oils.
American English: blot
Brazilian Portuguese: secar
Chinese: > 吸干名誉上的
European Spanish: secar
French: tamponner
German: abtupfen
Italian: asciugarecon materiale assorbente
Japanese: 拭き取る
Korean: 얼룩을 닦아내다
European Portuguese: secar
Latin American Spanish: enjugar
All related terms of 'blot'
blot out
If one thing blots out another thing, it is in front of the other thing and prevents it from being seen .
ink blot
a stain on paper, made by ink
blot analysis
a technique for analysing biological molecules, such as proteins ( Western blot analysis ), DNA ( Southern blot analysis ), and RNA ( Northern blot analysis ), involving their separation by gel electrophoresis , transfer to a nitrocellulose sheet , and subsequent analysis by autoradiography
Northern blot
a procedure for studying the activity of a specific gene , as in testing for a hereditary defect : RNA fragments in an extract of a cell population or a tissue are separated by gel electrophoresis , transferred to a filter , and then hybridized with labeled DNA or RNA derived from a laboratory-engineered copy of the gene in order to identify the size and abundance of the RNA expressed by that gene
Southern blot
a procedure for identifying and measuring the amount of a specific DNA sequence or gene in a mixed extract , as in testing for a mutation or a virus : DNA strands from the person or organism under study are cut with restriction enzymes , separated by gel electrophoresis , transferred to special filter paper, and hybridized with a labeled DNA probe
Western blot
a highly sensitive procedure for identifying and measuring the amount of a specific protein in a mixed extract , as in testing for AIDS virus protein in a blood sample : proteins are separated by gel electrophoresis and transferred to a special filter paper, on which the protein under investigation can be detected by a probe , as the binding of a labeled antibody
ink blot test
a personality test consisting of a number of unstructured ink blots presented for interpretation
blot sb's copybook
If you blot your copybook , you spoil your good reputation by doing something wrong .
blot your copybook
to damage your reputation by doing something wrong
blot one's copybook
to spoil one's reputation by making a mistake , offending against social customs , etc
blot on the landscape
If you describe something such as a building as a blot on the landscape , you mean that you think it is very ugly and spoils an otherwise attractive place.
blotting
a technique for analysing biological molecules, such as proteins ( Western blot analysis ), DNA ( Southern blot analysis ), and RNA ( Northern blot analysis ), involving their separation by gel electrophoresis , transfer to a nitrocellulose sheet, and subsequent analysis by autoradiography
a blot on the landscape
a building or some other structure that is ugly and spoils a place which would otherwise be very attractive
blot on one's escutcheon
a stain on one's honour
a blot on one's escutcheon
a stain on one's honor ; disgrace to one's reputation
Chinese translation of 'blot'
blot
(blɔt)
n(c)
(on text) 污迹(跡) (wūjì)
(fig, on name etc) 损(損)坏(壞) (sǔnhuài)
vt
(with blotting paper) 吸干(乾) (xīgān)
(with towel) 吸干(乾) (xīgān)
a blot on the landscape有碍(礙)观(觀)瞻的物体(體) (yǒu ài guānzhān de wùtǐ)
to blot one's copybook损(損)坏(壞)自己的名誉(譽) (sǔnhuài zìjǐ de míngyù)
1 (noun)
Definition
a stain on one's character
a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession
Synonyms
disgrace
the disgrace of having claimed a prize I didn't deserve
spot
fault
His manners always made her blind to his faults.
stain
a stain on the honour of its war dead
scar
defect
The report pointed out the defects in the present system.
flaw
The only flaw in his character is a short temper.
taint
blemish
the blemish on his face
demerit
smirch
blot on your escutcheon
2 (noun)
Definition
a stain or spot, esp. of ink
an ink blot
Synonyms
spot
The floorboards were covered with white spots.
mark
The dogs rub against the walls and make dirty marks.
patch
His marriage is going through a rough patch.
smear
a smear of gravy
smudge
smudges of blood
speck
There is a speck of blood by his ear.
blotch
His face was covered in red blotches.
splodge
stain
a black stain
1 (verb)
Definition
to soak up (excess ink, etc.) by using blotting paper
Blot any excess oils with a tissue.
Synonyms
soak up
take up
absorb
Refined sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.
draw up
dry up
mop up
suck up
sop up
2 (verb)
Definition
to cause a blemish in or on
Only one memorable slip-up has blotted his career.
Synonyms
stain
Some foods can stain teeth, as of course can tea and coffee.
mark
How do you stop the horses marking the turf?
spot
a brown shoe spotted with paint
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
disgrace
These soldiers have disgraced their regiment.
tarnish
It never rusts or tarnishes.
disfigure
sully
I felt loath to sully the gleaming brass knocker by handling it.
smirch
phrasal verb
See blot something out
Additional synonyms
in the sense of absorb
Definition
to soak up a liquid
Refined sugars are absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly.