I. ˈbləd noun
( -s ; see sense 9 )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English blōd; akin to Old High German bluot blood, Old Norse blōth, Gothic blōth, and probably to Old English blōwan to bloom — more at blow
1.
a. : the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of vertebrate animals carrying nourishment and oxygen to all parts of the body and bringing away waste products for excretion and that consists of a liquid plasma containing dissolved nutrients, waste products, and other substances and suspended red blood cells, leukocytes, and blood platelets — see circulation , respiration ; coagulation
b. : any fluid of similar function and comparable composition in an invertebrate animal usually containing a respiratory pigment dissolved in the plasma and one or more kinds of cells often amoeboid
c. : any fluid suggestive of or likened to vertebrate blood especially in color or in vital quality (as the juice of the grape or the sap of a plant)
2.
a. : blood regarded as a vital principle : lifeblood ; broadly : life
b. : human blood regarded as a hereditary differentiating factor typical of and specific to a given family, stock, lineage, or race
English blood
especially : the national blood royal — used with the
a prince of the blood
c. : the whole body of physical traits passed from parent to offspring whether in man, animals, or plants
d. : relationship by descent from a common ancestor
the Delaware grape shows a strong strain of vinifera blood
: kinship , consanguinity
blood is thicker than water
e. : persons related through a common familial or racial descent : kindred , lineage , stock , race ; also obsolete : kinsman , relative
f. : honorable birth or descent ; often : aristocratic or high birth or lineage
a gentleman of blood and breeding — Shakespeare
g. of animals or plants : descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree ; specifically of horses : descent from Thoroughbred ancestors — see half blood
3.
a. : blood shed in the taking of life especially in sacrifice ; specifically : the blood shed in the atonement offered by Christ
the blood of the Lamb
b. capitalized : the wine or its equivalent in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, held by some to be and by others to represent the blood of Jesus Christ
4.
a. : the shedding of blood ; also : the taking of life : murder , manslaughter
blood ever demands revenge
b. : murderous habit or deed
a man of blood
c. archaic : bloodguilt
His blood be on us and on our children — Mt 27:25 (Revised Standard Version)
5.
a. : blood regarded as the seat of the emotions : temper , passion
when you perceive his blood inclined to mirth — Shakespeare
he was no mean adversary when his blood was up
— compare humor , sanguine ; see bad blood , cold blood
b. obsolete : bodily passion : animal appetite : lust
c. : a gay showy foppish man : one unduly preoccupied with the trivia of fashionable life and lacking restraint or regard for proprieties : buck , dandy , rake
6. : personnel — used regularly with a qualifying term implying new and additional
we need young blood in this office
give me enough new blood and we'll get everything straightened out
7. : a measure of the fineness of wool fiber based on Merino wool as full blood with others in decreasing order of fineness (as three-quarter blood, half blood, quarter blood) — now used without any implication as to the breeding of the sheep producing the wool
8. Britain : a lurid work of fiction ; especially : a cheap and ill-written book of adventure or crime
9. or plural blood usually capitalized
a. : a people that comprise a division of the Blackfeet
b. : a member of such people
•
- in blood
- in one's blood
- out of blood
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
1. archaic : to let the blood of : bleed
2. : to stain, smear, or wet with blood : bloody ; especially : to mark the face of (an inexperienced fox hunter) with blood of the prey when a hunt is successful
3.
a. : to familiarize (a hunting dog) with its intended prey by exposing it to sight, scent, or taste of the blood of this prey
b. : to give (soldiers) experience in battle ; broadly : to give (a novice) experience in any field
c. : to use (a new weapon) in conflict
4. : to heat the blood of : exasperate
III. noun
: a black American male — used especially among blacks