blood libel noun

A false accusation of murder or barbarism, esp the medieval slander that Jews sacrificed Christian children at Passover

bloodˈline noun

(of animals, etc) all the individuals in a family line over a number of generations, esp as considered with regard to some characteristic or other

bloodˈlust noun

Desire for bloodshed

blood money noun

1. Money earned by laying or supporting a capital charge against anyone, esp if the charge is false or made by an accomplice
2. Money paid to a hired assassin
3. Money paid or accepted for doing something shameful
4. Compensation formerly paid to the next of kin of a victim who has been killed

blood oath noun (Aust)

An interjection expressing surprise or anger

blood orange noun

A variety of orange with red or red-streaked pulp

blood packing see blood doping above.

blood plasma noun

The almost colourless liquid left after the blood cells and platelets have been removed from blood

bloodˈ-plate noun

A platelet

blood poisoning noun

A name popularly, but loosely, used of pyaemia and septicaemia

blood pressure noun

The pressure of the blood on the walls of the blood vessels, varying with age and physical condition

blood pudding noun

Black pudding

blood purge noun

The massacre or execution of large numbers believed by a government or ruler to be disloyal

bloodˈ-rain noun

Rain coloured by red dust from the desert

bloodˈ-red adjective

Of the colour of blood

blood relation or blood relative noun

A person related by common ancestry

bloodˈroot noun

A N American plant (Sanguinaria canadensis) of the poppy family with red rootstock and sap

blood-royˈal noun

Royal descent

bloodˈ-sacrifice noun (Shakespeare)

A sacrifice made with bloodshed

blood sausage noun

A blood pudding

bloodˈshed noun

1. The shedding of blood
2. Slaughter

bloodˈshot adjective

(of the eye) red or inflamed with blood

bloodˈ-sized adjective

Sized or smeared with blood

bloodˈ-spavin noun

A disease of horses consisting of the swelling of a vein on the inside of the hock, from a checking of the blood

blood sports plural noun

Those involving the killing of animals, fox hunting and the like

bloodˈsprent adjective

Sprinkled with blood

bloodˈstain noun

bloodˈstained adjective

1. Stained with blood
2. Guilty of murder

bloodˈstock noun

1. Pedigree horses collectively
2. Young men available as dance partners

bloodˈstone noun

1. A green chalcedony with blood-like spots of red jasper
2. Haematite

bloodˈstream noun

The blood flowing through the body (also figurative)

bloodˈsucker noun

1. An animal that sucks blood, esp a leech
2. An extortionist
3. A person who sponges on another

bloodˈsucking adjective

That sucks or draws blood (also figurative)

blood sugar noun

The concentration of glucose in the blood

bloodˈ-tax noun (derogatory)

Conscription or universal military service

blood test noun

An analysis of a small specimen of blood

bloodˈthirstily adverb

bloodˈthirstiness noun

bloodˈthirsty adjective

1. Eager to shed blood
2. Depicting much violence

blood transfusion noun

The taking of blood from the veins of one person and subsequent injection of it into those of another

blood type noun

Blood group

blood typing noun

The classification of blood according to blood groups, or the identification of the blood group to which a sample of blood belongs

blood vessel noun

A vein or artery

bloodˈ-wagon noun (slang)

An ambulance

bloodˈ-wite or bloodˈ-wit noun (OE law)

1. A fine for shedding blood
2. The right to levy it

bloodˈwood noun

A name for various trees with red wood or juice, or their timber, eg a lythraceous tree of the East Indies (genus Lagerstroemia), eucalyptus of different kinds, or logwood

bloodˈworm noun

1. A red aquatic midge larva (genus Chironomus)
2. A tubifex

after or out for (someone's) blood

Having murderous intentions (towards someone) (lit and figurative)

avenger of blood

The next of kin to a murdered person whose duty it was thought to be to avenge his or her death

blood and iron see Blut

blood is thicker than water

Family obligations take precedence over other ties

blood on the carpet

Resolution of a conflict by extreme and unpleasant measures

first blood

The first drawing of blood in a fight (also figurative)

fresh, new (or young) blood

New (or young) members in any association of people, to add vitality and new ideas

in blood

In full vigour

in hot (or cold) blood

In (or free from) excitement or sudden passion

in one's blood

In one's character, inborn

make someone's blood boil (or run cold)

To arouse someone's fury (or to horrify someone)