blank

[blangk]

adjective

blanker, blankest 

1. (of paper or other writing surface) having no marks; not written or printed on.

   a blank sheet of paper.

2. not filled in, as a printed form.

   a blank check.

3. unrelieved or unbroken by ornament, opening, decoration, etc..

   a blank wall.

4. lacking some usual or completing feature.

   An image is stamped onto a blank coin by a die.

5. (of a recording medium) containing no previously recorded information.

   She transferred all the restored data onto a blank hard drive.

   I still have a few blank CD-ROMs.

6. void of interest, variety, results, etc..

   She sometimes occupied her blank days reading detective stories.

7. showing no attention, interest, or emotion.

   a blank expression on his face.

8. disconcerted; nonplussed; speechless.

   He looked blank when I asked him why he applied for the job.

   Synonyms: perplexed, dumbstruck

9. complete; utter; unmitigated.

   blank stupidity.

   Synonyms: unqualified, absolute, perfect, unadulterated, thorough, pure, downright

10. Archaic.,  white; pale; colorless.

noun

1. a place where something is lacking; an empty space.

   a blank in one's memory.

   Synonyms: gap, vacancy, void, hiatus, lacuna

2. a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in.

   Write your name in the blank.

3. a printed form containing such spaces.

   Have you filled out one of these blanks?

4. a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., especially to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.

5. Metalworking.,  a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.

6. blank cartridge.

7. Archery.,  the bull's-eye.

8. the object toward which anything is directed; aim; target.

verb (used with object)

1. to cross out or delete, especially in order to invalidate or void (usually followed byout ).

   to blank out an entry.

2. Informal.,  to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.

3. Metalworking.,  to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.

blank

/ blæŋk /

adjective

1. (of a writing surface) bearing no marks; not written on

2. (of a form, etc) with spaces left for details to be filled in

3. without ornament or break; unrelieved

   a blank wall

4. not filled in; empty; void

   a blank space

5. exhibiting no interest or expression

   a blank look

6. lacking understanding; confused

   he looked blank even after the explanations

7. absolute; complete

   blank rejection

8. devoid of ideas or inspiration

   his mind went blank in the exam

9. unproductive; barren

noun

1. an emptiness; void; blank space

2. an empty space for writing in, as on a printed form

3. a printed form containing such empty spaces

4. something characterized by incomprehension or mental confusion

   my mind went a complete blank

5. a mark, often a dash, in place of a word, esp a taboo word

6. short for blank cartridge

7. a plate or plug used to seal an aperture

8. a piece of material prepared for stamping, punching, forging, etc

9. archery the white spot in the centre of a target

10. 1. to choose a lottery ticket that fails to win

    2. to get no results from something

verb

1. (usually foll by out) to cross out, blot, or obscure

2. slang,  to ignore or be unresponsive towards (someone)

   the crowd blanked her for the first four numbers

3. to forge, stamp, punch, or cut (a piece of material) in preparation for forging, die-stamping, or drawing operations

4. (often foll by off) to seal (an aperture) with a plate or plug

5. informal,  to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game

Other Word Forms

• blankness noun
• blankly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of blank¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English (noun and adjective) from Anglo-French, French blanc; adjective from Germanic; compare Old English blanca “white horse,” Old High German blanch “bright, white” ( German blank )

Word History and Origins

Origin of blank¹

C15: from Old French blanc white, of Germanic origin; related to Old English blanca a white horse

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. draw a blank,

   1. to fail in an attempt; be unsuccessful.

      We've drawn a blank in the investigation.

   2. to fail to comprehend or be unable to recollect.

      He asked me their phone number and I drew a blank.

More idioms and phrases containing blank

• draw a blank
• fill in (the blanks)

Synonym Study

See empty.

Example Sentences

You could argue that there’s something exciting about the chance to draw a new community on the blank canvas of the old one.

From Los Angeles Times

Next to Lee’s cracked beams of sunshine, Shepherd’s builder is disturbingly blank, though not impossible to read.

From Salon

To a younger generation, “Top Gun” might mean a blank stare.

From Los Angeles Times

It brought back memories of the opening weeks of the season, when Newcastle fired blanks against Aston Villa and Leeds United.

From BBC

Instead of discarding the idea in lieu of clarity, she trusted in the delivery method and Hansard helped fill in the blanks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dull 
• hollow 
• immobile 
• impassive 
• lifeless 
• meaningless 
• vacant