3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Blinding pain is very strong pain. □ There was a pain then, a quick, blinding agony that jumped along Danlo's spine.
blind|ly /bla I ndli/
1 ADV [usu ADV with v, oft ADV adj] If you say that someone does something blindly , you mean that they do it without having enough information, or without thinking about it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Don't just blindly follow what the banker says. □ Without adequate information, many students choose a college almost blindly.
2 → see also blind
bli nd spot (blind spots )
1 N‑COUNT If you say that someone has a blind spot about something, you mean that they seem to be unable to understand it or to see how important it is. □ The prime minister has a blind spot on ethical issues. □ When I was single I never worried about money–it was a bit of a blind spot.
2 N‑COUNT A blind spot is an area in your range of vision that you cannot see properly but which you really should be able to see. For example, when you are driving a car, the area just behind your shoulders is often a blind spot.
bli nd tru st (blind trusts ) N‑COUNT A blind trust is a financial arrangement in which someone's investments are managed without the person knowing where the money is invested. Blind trusts are used especially by people such as members of parliament, so that they cannot be accused of using their position to make money unfairly. [BUSINESS ] □ His shares were placed in a blind trust when he became a government minister.
bling /bl I ŋ/ or bling-bling N‑UNCOUNT Some people refer to expensive or fancy jewellery as bling or bling-bling . [INFORMAL ] □ Big-name jewellers are battling it out to get celebrities to wear their bling. □ …gangsta rap's love of bling-bling.
blink /bl I ŋk/ (blinks , blinking , blinked )
1 VERB When you blink or when you blink your eyes, you shut your eyes and very quickly open them again. □ [V ] Kathryn blinked and forced a smile. □ [V n] She was blinking her eyes rapidly. □ [V + at ] He blinked at her. ● N‑COUNT Blink is also a noun. □ He kept giving quick blinks.
2 VERB When a light blinks , it flashes on and off. □ [V ] Green and yellow lights blinked on the surface of the harbour. □ [V on ] A warning light blinked on. [Also V out/off ]
3 PHRASE If a machine goes on the blink , it stops working properly. [INFORMAL ] □ …an old TV that's on the blink.
blink|ered /bl I ŋkə r d/ ADJ A blinkered view, attitude, or approach is narrow and does not take into account other people's opinions. A blinkered person has this kind of attitude. [BRIT , DISAPPROVAL ] □ They've got a very blinkered view of life. □ Haig was limited by his blinkered approach to strategy and tactics.
blink|ers /bl I ŋkə r z/ N‑PLURAL Blinkers are two pieces of leather which are placed at the side of a horse's eyes so that it can only see straight ahead. [mainly BRIT ] in AM, use blinders
blip /bl I p/ (blips )
1 N‑COUNT A blip is a small spot of light, sometimes occurring with a short, high-pitched sound, which flashes on and off regularly on a piece of equipment such as a radar screen.
2 N‑COUNT A blip in a straight line, such as the line on a graph, is a point at which the line suddenly makes a sharp change of direction before returning to its original direction.
3 N‑COUNT A blip in a situation is a sudden but temporary change or interruption in it. □ …a minor blip in the upward trajectory of the markets.
bliss /bl I s/ N‑UNCOUNT Bliss is a state of complete happiness. □ It was a scene of such domestic bliss.
bliss|ful /bl I sfʊl/
1 ADJ A blissful situation or period of time is one in which you are extremely happy. □ We spent a blissful week together. □ There's just nothing more blissful than lying by that pool. ● bliss|ful|ly /bl I sfʊli/ ADV [ADV adj, ADV after v] □ We're blissfully happy. □ The summer passed blissfully.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] If someone is in blissful ignorance of something unpleasant or serious, they are totally unaware of it. □ Many country parishes were still living in blissful ignorance of the post-war crime wave. ● bliss|ful|ly ADV [usu ADV adj, oft ADV before v] □ At first, he was blissfully unaware of the conspiracy against him.
blis|ter /bl I stə r / (blisters , blistering , blistered )
1 N‑COUNT A blister is a painful swelling on the surface of your skin. Blisters contain a clear liquid and are usually caused by heat or by something repeatedly rubbing your skin.
2 VERB When your skin blisters or when something blisters it, blisters appear on it. □ [V ] The affected skin turns red and may blister. □ [V n] The sap of this plant blisters the skin. □ [V -ed] …pausing to bathe their blistered feet.
blis|ter|ing /bl I stər I ŋ/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Blistering heat is very great heat. □ …a blistering summer day.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A blistering remark expresses great anger or dislike. □ The president responded to this with a blistering attack on his critics.
3 ADJ [ADJ n] Blistering is used to describe actions in sport to emphasize that they are done with great speed or force. [JOURNALISM , EMPHASIS ] □ David set a blistering pace at first.
blithe /bla I ð/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] You use blithe to indicate that something is done casually, without serious or careful thought. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It does so with blithe disregard for best scientific practice. ● blithe|ly ADV [ADV with v, ADV adj] □ Your editorial blithely ignores the hard facts.