blot

¹

[ blot ]

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.

verb (used with object)

, blot·ted, blot·ting.

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

   Synonyms: disfigure, sully

2. to darken; make dim; obscure or eclipse (usually followed by out ):

   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)

, blot·ted, blot·ting.

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. Compare gel ( def 4 ), gel electrophoresis ( def ).

verb phrase

1. 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

[ blot ]

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.

blot

¹

/ 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

blot

²

/ 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

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. blot one's copybook informal.
   blot one's copybook 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. troften foll byout
   1. to darken or hide completely; obscure; obliterate
   2. to destroy; annihilate

Other Words From

• blotless adjective
• blotting·ly adverb
• blotty adjective
• un·blotted adjective

Word History and Origins

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of blot¹

C16: perhaps from Middle Dutch bloot poor

Origin of blot²

C14: probably of Germanic origin; compare Middle Dutch bluyster blister

Example Sentences

Here’s the nutshell bio that Gary sent me last night — after I discovered that he’d gotten that 500th blot of ink.

From Washington Post

Like a catalogue of Rorschach ink blots, his oeuvre generates orgies of idle speculation and elaborate projection.

From Washington Post

Back in 2015, the Empress ran a contest that Loser William Verkuilen remembers fondly, having gotten a couple of blots of ink out of it in Week 1155.

From Washington Post

It’s the fifth Style Invitational win — and 382nd blot in all — for Dave Prevar, but it’s his first Clowning Achievement trophy.

From Washington Post

There’s one subset of Novel Interpretations of our Staake contest that’s unlikely ever to win the whole thing, but almost always results in a blot of ink for one or two Losers.

From Washington Post

Like Amalek, the Biblical evil-doer whose name we are enjoined to “blot out.”

From The Daily Beast

But we must remember not only to not forget, but to blot out the enemy—not mercifully, but through genocide.

From The Daily Beast

The scandal was “a serious blot on my reputation,” he complained to Leveson.

From The Daily Beast

Think of its twisted outline as a Rorschach blot for a society—maybe a civilization.

From The Daily Beast

The speech did irreparable damage to Powell's reputation, and he has since called it "a blot on his record."

From The Daily Beast

I am, I am he that blot out thy iniquities for my own sake, and I will not remember thy sins.

From Project Gutenberg

It needs better evidence to stamp this solitary suggestion of a blot on the clear scutcheon of Douglas.

From Project Gutenberg

Men surged forward to close in and blot out the glow from the killer's fingers.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the blot on Richard Feverel, for instance, that it begins to end well; and then tricks you and ends ill.

From Project Gutenberg

The failure to recognize the sanctity of marriage is the great blot on the system of Confucius as a scheme of morals.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• smudge