adj., v., n., & adv.
adj. 1 lacking the power of sight. 2 a without foresight, discernment, intellectual perception, or adequate information (blind effort). b (often foll. by to) unwilling or unable to appreciate (a factor, circumstance, etc.) (blind to argument). 3 not governed by purpose or reason (blind forces). 4 reckless (blind hitting). 5 a concealed (blind ditch). b (of a door, window, etc.) walled up. c closed at one end. 6 Aeron. (of flying) without direct observation, using instruments only. 7 Cookery (of a flan case, pie base, etc.) baked without a filling. 8 sl. drunk.
v. 1 tr. deprive of sight, permanently or temporarily (blinded by tears). 2 tr. (often foll. by to) rob of judgement; deceive (blinded them to the danger). 3 intr. sl. go very fast and dangerously, esp. in a motor vehicle.
n. 1 a a screen for a window, esp. on a roller, or with slats (roller blind; Venetian blind). b an awning over a shop window. 2 a something designed or used to hide the truth; a pretext. b a legitimate business concealing a criminal enterprise (he's a spy, and his job is just a blind). 3 any obstruction to sight or light. 4 Brit. sl. a heavy drinking-bout. 5 Cards a stake put up by a poker player before the cards dealt are seen. 6 US = HIDE(1) n.
adv. blindly (fly blind; bake it blind). blind alley 1 a cul-de-sac. 2 a course of action leading nowhere. blind as a bat completely blind. blind coal coal burning without a flame. blind corner a corner round which a motorist etc. cannot see. blind date 1 a social engagement between a man and a woman who have not previously met. 2 either of the couple on a blind date. blind drunk extremely drunk. blind gut the caecum. blind man's buff a game in which a blindfold player tries to catch others while being pushed about by them. blind side a direction in which one cannot see the approach of danger etc. blind spot 1 Anat. the point of entry of the optic nerve on the retina, insensitive to light. 2 an area in which a person lacks understanding or impartiality. 3 a point of unusually weak radio reception. blind stamping (or tooling) embossing a book cover without the use of colour or gold leaf. blind-stitch n. sewing visible on one side only.
v.tr. & intr. sew with this stitch. blind to incapable of appreciating. blind with science overawe with a display of (often spurious) knowledge. go it blind act recklessly or without proper consideration. not a blind bit of (or not a blind) sl. not the slightest; not a single (took not a blind bit of notice; not a blind word out of him). turn a (or one's) blind eye to pretend not to notice. blindly adv. blindness n.
[ OE f. Gmc ]