blight
[ blahyt ]
/ blaɪt /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
Origin of blight
First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin
OTHER WORDS FROM blight
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. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for blight
What Is “GOP” Short For?
“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time
“Vaccinate” vs. “Inoculate” vs. “Immunize”: What Are The Differences?
What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”?
Where Does The Name “Saturday” Come From?
“Effectiveness” vs. “Efficacy” vs. “Efficiency”: When To Use Each Word For The Best Results
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
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific 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.