the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates, in humans consisting of plasma in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
the vital principle; life.
The excitement had got into the very blood of the nation.
a person or group regarded as a source of energy, vitality, or vigor.
It's time we got some new blood in this company.
one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing cheerfulness.
the shedding of blood; slaughter; murder.
to avenge the blood of his father.
the juice or sap of plants.
the blood of the grape.
a person of hot blood.
physical nature of human beings.
the frailty of our blood.
Chiefly British. a high-spirited dandy; an adventuresome youth.
the young bloods of Cambridge.
a profligate or rake.
physical and cultural extraction.
It was a trait that seemed to be in their blood.
royal extraction.
a prince of the blood.
descent from a common ancestor; ancestry; lineage.
related by blood.
recorded and respected ancestry; purebred breeding.
Slang.
a Black person, especially a young Black man.
Hunting. to give (hounds) a first sight or taste of blood.
to stain with blood.
make one's blood boil, to inspire resentment, anger, or indignation.
Such carelessness makes my blood boil.
get / have one's blood up, to become or be enraged or impassioned.
Injustice of any sort always gets my blood up.
have someone's blood on one's head / hands, to be to blame for someone's affliction or death.
Though a criminal, he had no blood on his hands.
make one's blood run cold, to fill with terror; frighten.
The dark, deserted street in that unfamiliar neighborhood made her blood run cold.
sweat blood. sweat.
in cold blood, without pity or mercy; ruthlessly.
The dictator, in cold blood, ordered the execution of all his political enemies.
taste blood, to experience a new sensation, usually a violent or destructive one, and acquire an appetite for it.
Once the team had tasted blood, there was no preventing them from winning by a wide margin.
a reddish fluid in vertebrates that is pumped by the heart through the arteries and veins, supplies tissues with nutrients, oxygen, etc, and removes waste products. It consists of a fluid (see blood plasma ) containing cells (erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets)
a similar fluid in such invertebrates as annelids and arthropods
bloodshed, esp when resulting in murder
the guilt or responsibility for killing or injuring (esp in the phrase to have blood on one's hands or head )
life itself; lifeblood
relationship through being of the same family, race, or kind; kinship
informal hard work and concentrated effort
near kindred or kinship, esp that between a parent and child
human nature (esp in the phrase it's more than flesh and blood can stand )
ethnic or national descent
of Spanish blood
as a natural or inherited characteristic or talent
royal or noble descent
a prince of the blood
temperament; disposition; temper
good or pure breeding; pedigree
( as modifier )
blood horses
people viewed as members of a group, esp as an invigorating force (in the phrases new blood, young blood )
rare a dashing young man; dandy; rake
the sensual or carnal nature of man
obsolete one of the four bodily humours See humour
hatred; ill feeling
family duties and loyalty outweigh other ties
to be or cause to be angry or inflamed
showing no passion; deliberately; ruthlessly
to cause to be angry or indignant
to fill with horror
hunting to cause (young hounds) to taste the blood of a freshly killed quarry and so become keen to hunt
hunting to smear the cheeks or forehead of (a person) with the blood of the kill as an initiation in hunting
to initiate (a person) to an activity or organization, esp by real-life experience
The fluid tissue that circulates through the body of a vertebrate animal by the pumping action of the heart. Blood is the transport medium by which oxygen and nutrients are carried to body cells and waste products are picked up for excretion. Blood consists of plasma in which red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
A fluid that is similar in function in many invertebrate animals.
What is a basic definition of blood? Blood is a vital bodily fluid pumped through the veins and arteries by the heart. Blood also refers to people who provide energy, to a tendency a person has, or to a person’s ancestry. The word blood has several other senses as a noun and a few as a verb. Blood is the red fluid that flows through your body. It is made of plasma, white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. Blood carries oxygen and other important nutrients throughout the body. It also carries waste, such as carbon dioxide, to the lungs, kidneys, and liver to be removed. Blood is a major component of the circulatory system, which also includes the heart, veins, arteries, and lymph nodes. The verbs bleed and bled mean to ooze, leak, or exude blood.
First recorded before 1000; Middle English blo(o)d, Old English blōd; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon blōd, Old High German bluot ( German Blut ), Old Norse blōth, Gothic bloth, from Germanic blōdam
Blood most often describes the fluid that circulates through your body — the red stuff that seeps out of your finger if you get a paper cut. Blood can also refer to temperament. If something gets your blood up, that means it makes you angry. You might even get so mad that it feels like your blood boils. You can also use blood to describe a common ancestry. You might have Scottish blood in you — that means some of your ancestors came from Scotland. Blood can also describe family members — you may get frustrated at your brother sometimes but he’s your own flesh and blood.
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The same chatbot, shown years of labs, imaging and diagnoses, can catch glucose, blood pressure and weight drifting up together, years before any one measure crosses a line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Only 7% of American adults have healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol and weight.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Medical practices collect their payments in full only when their patients’ blood pressure or blood sugar actually improves.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
Volunteers also showed improved blood sugar control and lower levels of inflammatory markers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 13, 2026
“Maybe you’re right. And it is in Marlene’s blood, that is for sure,” Mutti conceded.
From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo
NHS Blood and Transplant says it is "deeply sorry" after sensitive data was sent over an unencrypted pager network.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Head of organ transplantation at NHS Blood and Transplant, Anthony Clarkson, said the service is "deeply sorry"
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Blood samples were also collected so the team could examine changes involving metabolism, immune activity, molecular signaling, and other biological processes.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 9, 2026
“Children of Blood and Bone” is one way of doing that.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
I could see Half- Blood Hill ahead of us, with its giant pine tree at the crest—Thalia's tree, which contained the life force of a fallen hero.
From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan
And this one has delivered an epic Final Four of blue bloods who have all proven they can go the distance: France, Spain, England, and Argentina.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026
The agency demanded evidence from an “adequate and well-controlled trial” to prove that reducing the protein in patients’ bloods improves patient outcomes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 24, 2026
Julie says that when the doctor could not get bloods, she realised Mason wasn't breathing - and says the medic then "went into total panic".
From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2025
Where there were concerns in the past about USC having enough resources to compete with other blue bloods, Bowden says he has no such worry.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2025
“And you procured a small annoying boy to replace her. So I see no point risking further half- bloods on a ridiculous rescue. The possibility is very great that this Annie girl is dead.”
From "The Titan's Curse" by Rick Riordan
Toxoplasma gondii is a potentially dangerous parasite that infects warm blooded animals.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 16, 2026
Steve Borthwick blooded five new players and a lot could have gone wrong, but there were some good individual performances in the 27-24 win.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2024
Some deep-sea fish, such as tuna and lamnid sharks, a family of large and speedy sharks, are partially warm blooded; they can divert body heat to specific organs even in icy temps.
From Science Magazine ● May 10, 2023
“Because they’re cold blooded animals, they regulate their body temperature as best they can based on the environment,” he said.
From New York Times ● Aug. 15, 2022
At the desk sat a young man who looked to be a full- blooded Ceald, with the characteristic ruddy complexion and dark hair and eyes.
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
Southgate offered a nod, too, to the much-criticised Roy Hodgson for blooding so many younger players during his tenure in charge.
From The Guardian ● Jul. 7, 2018
Italy, because they are blooding quite a few youngsters in the Six Nations, and they do not have a consistent enough goal kicker to capitalise on the good work of their forwards.
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2015
"I'd rather go through the tough times now than be blooding young players with no experience in the 2015 World Cup in our own backyard," warned Lancaster flatly.
From The Guardian ● Mar. 19, 2013
This is in no small part due to the money the England and Wales Cricket Board have invested in blooding players for international cricket.
From BBC ● Dec. 19, 2012
"She had a fainting-fit just now in His Majesty's presence; and they have been blooding her."
From Oddsfish! by Robert Hugh Benson
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.
