blot

¹ American  

[blot] / blɒt /

noun

1. a spot or stain, especially of ink on paper.

   Synonyms:

   blotch

2. a blemish on a person's character or reputation.

   He had been haunted by a blot on his past.

   Synonyms:

   spot, disgrace, dishonor, taint, stain

3. Archaic. an erasure or obliteration, as in a writing.

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verb (used with object)

blotted, blotting

1. to spot, stain, soil, or the like.

   Synonyms:

   disfigure, sully

2. to darken; make dim; obscure or eclipse (usually followed byout ).

   We watched as the moon blotted out the sun.

   Synonyms:

   expunge, erase, efface, obliterate

3. to dry with absorbent paper or the like.

   to blot the wet pane.

4. to remove with absorbent paper or the like.

   Synonyms:

   absorb

verb (used without object)

blotted, blotting

1. to make a blot; spread ink, dye, etc., in a stain.

   The more slowly I write, the more this pen blots.

2. to become blotted or stained.

   This paper blots too easily.

3. Chemistry. to transfer an array of separated components of a mixture to a chemically treated paper for analysis.

verb phrase

1. blot out

   1. to make indistinguishable; obliterate.

      to blot out a name from the record.

   2. to wipe out completely; destroy.

      Whole cities were blotted out by bombs.

blot ² American  

[blot] / blɒt /

noun

1. Backgammon. an exposed piece liable to be taken or forfeited.

2. Archaic. an exposed or weak point, as in an argument or course of action.

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blot ¹ British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (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)

2. informal to spoil one's reputation by making a mistake, offending against social customs, etc

3. (intr) to stain or become stained or spotted

4. (tr) to cause a blemish in or on; disgrace

5. to soak up (excess ink, etc) by using blotting paper or some other absorbent material

6. (of blotting paper or some other absorbent material) to absorb (excess ink, etc)

7. 1. to darken or hide completely; obscure; obliterate

   2. to destroy; annihilate

blot ² British  

/ blɒt /

noun

1. backgammon a man exposed by being placed alone on a point and therefore able to be taken by the other player

2. archaic a weak spot

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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

By then, he said, the speech was “painful” for him personally and would forever be a “blot” on his reputation.

From Salon

Needless to say, shaking off 2025 will require quite a bit of verbal blotting.

From Salon

“I’m always hot, babe,” Jones replied, continuing her blotting adventure before explaining — perhaps unnecessarily — “I’m having that menopause. That pause, that pause.”

From Los Angeles Times

Many of the towering sycamore trees and elder oaks — probably far older than even the adult Scout leaders — still blot out the midday sun with new, green leaves sprouting from their charred trunks.

From Los Angeles Times

That did not blot out the fear in many fields that raids could happen at any moment.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• blemish
• blotch
• smudge
• speck