blight
[ blahyt ]
/ blaɪt /
noun
Plant Pathology.
- the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.
- a disease so characterized.
any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration: Extravagance was the blight of the family.
the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay: urban blight.
verb (used with object)
to cause to wither or decay; blast: Frost blighted the crops.
to destroy; ruin; frustrate: Illness blighted his hopes.
verb (used without object)
to suffer blight.
RELATED WORDS
mildew, decay, scourge, eyesore, canker, pest, affliction, fungus, infestation, mar, taint, curse, pestilence, dump, withering, evil, bane, sight, contamination, woe
Nearby words
Origin of blight
First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin
Related forms
blight·ing·ly, adverbun·blight·ed, adjectiveun·blight·ed·ly, adverbun·blight·ed·ness, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for blight
British Dictionary definitions for blight
blight
/ (blaɪt) /
noun
verb
Word Origin for blight
C17: perhaps related to Old English blǣce rash; compare bleach
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Science definitions for blight
blight
[ blīt ]
Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.
The bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes such a disease.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.