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blood

[ bluhd ]

/ blʌd /

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See synonyms for blood on Thesaurus.com

Definition of blood

noun

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.

temperament; state of mind: 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.
brother (def. 8).

verb (used with object)

Hunting. to give (hounds) a first sight or taste of blood.Compare flesh (def. 14).

to stain with blood.

OTHER WORDS FOR blood

13 kinship, stock, family.

See synonyms for blood on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR BLOOD

The Story Behind The Blood Drop Emoji

The blood drop emoji, also called the period emoji, has a very interesting origin story. Do you know who thought of the idea to create it?

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QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"

"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."

Question 1 of 7

IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about blood

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.

in cold blood, deliberately; ruthlessly: The dictator, in cold blood, ordered the execution of all his political enemies.

make one's blood boil, to inspire resentment, anger, or indignation: Such carelessness makes my blood boil.

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 (def. 38).

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.

Origin of 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

OTHER WORDS FROM blood

bloodlike, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH blood

bled, bleed, blood

Words nearby blood

Blondel, blonde moment, blondie, Blondin, blonding, blood, blood agar, blood-air barrier, blood albumin, blood alcohol concentration, blood-and-guts

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

MORE ABOUT BLOOD

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.

Real-life examples: You are filled with blood. If you cut your hand, blood will flow out of the wound. A blood drive is an event where people are encouraged to donate blood to a hospital or medical organization. A blood transfusion is taking blood from one living thing and injecting it into another.
Used in a sentence: The butcher‘s smock was covered with pig’s blood.

Blood is also used to refer to people who provide energy, spirit, or vigor to something.

Real-life examples: Companies, clubs, or sports teams often look for new members, referred to as young blood or new blood, to provide new energy when they are stuck in a rut.
Used in a sentence: The basketball team started seeing success thanks to the new blood the rookies provided.

Blood is also used to mean a tendency or natural proficiency a person has that is seemingly based on their culture or background. This sense usually takes the form of in the blood.

Real-life examples: A family that has many members become amazing painters might say they have painting in their blood. Similarly, a son or daughter of a famous swimmer may state that swimming is in their blood when they attempt to become famous swimmers as well.
Used in a sentence: I come from a long line of bakers. Baking is in my blood!

Blood can also refer to people having a common ancestor or a shared heritage. The term bloodline also refers to this idea.

Real-life examples: Your parents, siblings, cousins, and grandparents are your blood relatives. You all have a common ancestor that you descend from. If you have a brother-in-law or a stepmother, they are related to you by marriage rather than by blood.
Used in a sentence: She has two brothers by blood and one by marriage.

Where does blood come from?

The first records of blood come from before the year 1000. It comes from the Old English blōd. It is related to words for the red liquid in several other languages, such as the Old High German bluot and the Old Norse blōth.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to blood?

bloodlike (adjective)

What are some synonyms for blood?

What are some words that share a root or word element with blood?

What are some words that often get used in discussing blood?

How is blood used in real life?

Blood is a common word. It is most often used to literally or figuratively refer to the vital bodily fluid.

Just dropped sheep blood all over my lab book. So that's how my day is going

— Rachel Motzer (@rachelmotzer) September 25, 2015

No hate in my blood.. I helped people reach goals that I was targeting myself!

— 😈😈😈😈 (@Jerseystar973) December 11, 2020

When you find out you're related by blood, to a former Archbishop of Canterbury 😱😱 @AncestryUK @Ancestry #ArchBishopRamsey

— Emily👑 (@EmilyPrince88) November 15, 2020

Try using blood!

True or False?

Blood is an unimportant fluid that the body occasionally produces.

How to use blood in a sentence

Paul, who rapidly gained 42 pounds of fluid and could hardly breathe at times, would receive overnight dialysis treatment several times a week so a machine could filter his blood to keep him alive.
A Welcome Lifeline|Washington Regional Transplant Community|September 17, 2020|Washington Blade
Apple added the ability to measure blood oxygen levels, or SpO2.
Apple Watch Series 6 first impressions: A stretchy addition looks great|Aaron Pressman|September 17, 2020|Fortune
Done right, the process can yield animal tissue that contains muscle, blood, and fat, just like you’d get from a farmed fish.
This Startup Is Growing Sushi-Grade Salmon From Cells in a Lab|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|September 16, 2020|Singularity Hub
Apple on Tuesday announced the new Apple Watch Series 6, which can monitor blood oxygen levels from the user’s wrist, and the Watch SE, a cheaper version of the gadget.
One country is now paying citizens to exercise with their Apple Watch|Naomi Xu Elegant|September 16, 2020|Fortune

“It sounds like you've got some good ideas, and we need new blood in there,” said Randi Williams, a 59-year-old lab technician.
The Trailer: The First State goes last|David Weigel|September 15, 2020|Washington Post
Although the blood-spattered offices will be off-limits, staff have vowed to continue producing the magazine.
France Mourns—and Hunts|Nico Hines, Christopher Dickey|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
For nearly her entire life Beyoncé has been giving us her blood, sweat, and tears in her career.
Bow Down, Bitches: How Beyoncé Turned an Elevator Brawl Into a Perfect Year|Kevin Fallon|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Royal Family has benefited hugely from the American blood in its veins.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The future Mr. Vergara—and star of ‘True Blood’ and ‘Magic Mike’ shares some life advice in an exclusive video.
Who Is Joe Manganiello? Sofia Vergara’s Fiancé on the Value of Hard Work|The Daily Beast Video|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In its over 1,000-year history, the land has soaked in the blood of millions of people.
Rebranding The Land of Mongol Warriors & Ivan The Terrible|Anna Nemtsova|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The blood that accused his friend in his heart, rushed to his face, when he repeated what had been told him.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
These differences of interests will lead to disputes, ill blood, and finally to separation.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
There lay Bob Rock, covered with blood, and apparently insensible.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, No. CCCXXXIX. January, 1844. Vol. LV.|Various
Louis pressed his father's hand to his lips; that hand which was hardly washed from the stain of Wharton's blood!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Blood-streaked sputum is strongly suggestive of tuberculosis, and is more common in the early stages than later.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd

British Dictionary definitions for blood (1 of 2)

blood

/ (blʌd) /

noun

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)Related adjectives: haemal, haematic, sanguineous

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

blood, sweat and tears informal hard work and concentrated effort

flesh and blood

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 descentof Spanish blood

in one's blood as a natural or inherited characteristic or talent

the blood royal or noble descenta 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)

mainly British rare a dashing young man; dandy; rake

the sensual or carnal nature of man

obsolete one of the four bodily humoursSee humour (def. 8)

bad blood hatred; ill feeling

blood is thicker than water family duties and loyalty outweigh other ties

have one's blood up or get one's blood up to be or cause to be angry or inflamed

in cold blood showing no passion; deliberately; ruthlessly

make one's blood boil to cause to be angry or indignant

make one's blood run cold to fill with horror

verb (tr)

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

Word Origin for blood

Old English blōd; related to Old Norse blōth, Old High German bluot

British Dictionary definitions for blood (2 of 2)

Blood

/ (blʌd) /

noun

Thomas, known as Colonel Blood . ?1618–80, Irish adventurer, who tried to steal the crown jewels (1671)

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

Medical definitions for blood

blood

[ blŭd ]

n.

The fluid consisting of plasma, red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets that is circulated by the heart through the arteries and veins, carrying oxygen and nutrients to and waste materials away from all body tissues.

One of the four humors of ancient and medieval physiology, identified with the blood found in the blood vessels, and believed to cause cheerfulness.

Descent from a common ancestor; parental lineage.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for blood

blood

[ blŭd ]

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.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for blood

blood

The fluid circulating through the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries of the circulatory system. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body and removes waste materials and carbon dioxide. It is composed of plasma (mainly water, but with a mixture of hormones, nutrients, gases, antibodies, and wastes), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which help combat infection), and platelets (which help the blood clot).

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Other Idioms and Phrases with blood

blood

In addition to the idiom beginning with blood

blood is thicker than water

also see:

bad blood
draw blood
flesh and blood
in cold blood
in one's blood
make one's blood boil
make one's blood run cold
new blood
out for (blood)
run in the blood (family)
scream bloody murder
shed blood
sporting blood
sweat blood

Also see underbleed.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.