bloo d re|la|tion (blood relations ) also blood relative N‑COUNT A blood relation or blood relative is someone who is related to you by birth rather than by marriage.
blood|shed /blʌ dʃed/ N‑UNCOUNT Bloodshed is violence in which people are killed or wounded. □ The government must increase the pace of reforms to avoid further bloodshed.
blood|shot /blʌ dʃɒt/ ADJ If your eyes are bloodshot , the parts that are usually white are red or pink. Your eyes can be bloodshot for a variety of reasons, for example because you are tired or you have drunk too much alcohol. □ John's eyes were bloodshot and puffy.
bloo d sport (blood sports ) also bloodsport N‑COUNT Blood sports are sports such as hunting in which animals are killed.
blood|stain /blʌ dste I n/ (bloodstains ) N‑COUNT A bloodstain is a mark on a surface caused by blood.
blood|stained /blʌ dste I nd/ ADJ Someone or something that is bloodstained is covered with blood. □ The killer must have been heavily bloodstained. □ …bloodstained clothing.
blood|stock /blʌ dstɒk/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] Horses that are bred for racing are referred to as bloodstock .
blood|stream /blʌ dstriːm/ (bloodstreams ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Your bloodstream is the blood that flows around your body. □ The disease releases toxins into the bloodstream.
blood|sucker /blʌ dsʌkə r / (bloodsuckers )
1 N‑COUNT A bloodsucker is any creature that sucks blood from a wound that it has made in an animal or person.
2 N‑COUNT If you call someone a bloodsucker , you disapprove of them because you think they do not do anything worthwhile but live off the efforts of other people. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ At last he was free from the financial bloodsuckers.
bloo d test (blood tests ) N‑COUNT A blood test is a medical examination of a small amount of your blood.
blood|thirsty /blʌ dθɜː r sti/ ADJ Bloodthirsty people are eager to use violence or display a strong interest in violent things. You can also use bloodthirsty to refer to very violent situations. □ They were savage and bloodthirsty. □ …some of the most tragic scenes witnessed even in this bloodthirsty war.
bloo d trans|fu|sion (blood transfusions ) N‑VAR A blood transfusion is a process in which blood is injected into the body of a person who is badly injured or ill.
bloo d type (blood types ) N‑COUNT Someone's blood type is the same as their blood group .
bloo d ves|sel (blood vessels ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Blood vessels are the narrow tubes through which your blood flows.
bloody ◆◇◇ /blʌ di/ (bloodier , bloodiest , bloodies , bloodying , bloodied )
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Bloody is used by some people to emphasize what they are saying, especially when they are angry. [BRIT , RUDE , EMPHASIS ]
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe a situation or event as bloody , you mean that it is very violent and a lot of people are killed. □ Forty-three demonstrators were killed in bloody clashes. □ They came to power after a bloody civil war. ● bloodi|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ Rebellions in the area were bloodily repressed by pro-government forces.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] You can describe someone or something as bloody if they are covered in a lot of blood. □ He was arrested last October, still carrying a bloody knife. □ Yulka's fingers were bloody and cracked. ● bloodi|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The soldier reeled bloodily away.
4 VERB If you have bloodied part of your body, there is blood on it, usually because you have had an accident or you have been attacked. □ [V n] One of our children fell and bloodied his knee. □ [V -ed] She stared at her own bloodied hands, unable to think or move.
Bloody Mary /blʌ di meə ri/ (Bloody Marys ) also bloody mary N‑COUNT A Bloody Mary is a drink made from vodka and tomato juice.
bloo dy-mi nded ADJ If you say that someone is being bloody-minded , you are showing that you disapprove of their behaviour because you think they are being deliberately difficult instead of being helpful. [BRIT , INFORMAL , DISAPPROVAL ] □ He had a reputation for being bloody-minded and difficult. ● bloody-mindedness N‑UNCOUNT □ This is sheer bloody-mindedness. □ …a rare mixture of courage and bloody-mindedness.
bloom /bluː m/ (blooms , blooming , bloomed )
1 N‑COUNT A bloom is the flower on a plant. [LITERARY , TECHNICAL ] □ …the sweet fragrance of the white blooms. □ Harry carefully picked the bloom.
2 PHRASE A plant or tree that is in bloom has flowers on it. □ …a pink climbing rose in full bloom. □ …the sweet smell of the blackberry in bloom.
3 VERB When a plant or tree blooms , it produces flowers. When a flower blooms , it opens. □ [V ] This plant blooms between May and June. ● -blooming COMB □ …the scent of night-blooming flowers.
4 VERB If someone or something blooms , they develop good, attractive, or successful qualities. □ [V ] Not many economies bloomed that year, least of all gold exporters like Australia. □ [V + into ] She bloomed into an utterly beautiful creature.
5 N‑UNCOUNT [oft a N ] If something such as someone's skin has a bloom , it has a fresh and healthy appearance. □ The skin loses its youthful bloom.
6 → see also blooming
bloom|ers /bluː mə r z/ N‑PLURAL [oft a pair of N ] Bloomers are an old-fashioned kind of women's underwear which consists of wide, loose trousers gathered at the knees.