bloom|ing /bluː m I ŋ/ ADJ Someone who is blooming looks attractively healthy and full of energy. □ She's in blooming health. □ If they were blooming with confidence they wouldn't need me.
bloop|er /bluː pə r / (bloopers ) N‑COUNT A blooper is a silly mistake. [mainly AM , INFORMAL ] □ …the overwhelming appeal of television bloopers.
blos|som /blɒ səm/ (blossoms , blossoming , blossomed )
1 N‑VAR Blossom is the flowers that appear on a tree before the fruit. □ The cherry blossom came out early in Washington this year. □ …the blossoms of plants, shrubs and trees.
2 VERB If someone or something blossoms , they develop good, attractive, or successful qualities. □ [V ] Why do some people take longer than others to blossom? □ [V + into ] What began as a local festival has blossomed into an international event. □ [V -ing] The pair have tried to keep their blossoming relationship under wraps. ● blos|som|ing N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the blossoming of British art, pop and fashion.
3 VERB When a tree blossoms , it produces blossom. □ [V ] Rain begins to fall and peach trees blossom.
blot /blɒ t/ (blots , blotting , blotted )
1 N‑COUNT If something is a blot on a person's or thing's reputation, it spoils their reputation. □ [+ on ] …a blot on the reputation of the architectural profession. □ [+ on ] This drugs scandal is another blot on the competition.
2 N‑COUNT A blot is a drop of liquid that has fallen on to a surface and has dried. □ …an ink blot.
3 VERB If you blot a surface, you remove liquid from it by pressing a piece of soft paper or cloth onto it. □ [V n] Before applying make-up, blot the face with a tissue to remove any excess oils. [Also V n adj]
4 PHRASE If you describe something such as a building as a blot on the landscape , you mean that you think it is very ugly and spoils an otherwise attractive place. □ The developers insist the £80m village will not leave a blot on the landscape.
▸ blot out
1 PHRASAL VERB If one thing blots out another thing, it is in front of the other thing and prevents it from being seen. □ [V P n] About the time the three climbers were halfway down, clouds blotted out the sun. □ [V n P ] …with mist blotting everything out except the endless black of the spruce on either side.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you try to blot out a memory, you try to forget it. If one thought or memory blots out other thoughts or memories, it becomes the only one that you can think about. □ [V P n] Are you saying that she's trying to blot out all memory of the incident? □ [V n P ] The boy has gaps in his mind about it. He is blotting certain things out. □ [V n P + of ] She has suffered an extremely unhappy childhood, but simply blotted it out of her memory.
blotch /blɒ tʃ/ (blotches ) N‑COUNT A blotch is a small unpleasant-looking area of colour, for example on someone's skin.
blotched /blɒ tʃt/ ADJ Something that is blotched has blotches on it. □ Her face is blotched and swollen. □ [+ with ] …a dozen cargo planes blotched with camouflage colors.
blotchy /blɒ tʃi/ ADJ Something that is blotchy has blotches on it. □ My skin goes red and blotchy. □ …blotchy marks on the leaves.
blot|ter /blɒ tə r / (blotters ) N‑COUNT A blotter is a large sheet of blotting paper kept in a special holder on a desk.
blo t|ting pa|per N‑UNCOUNT Blotting paper is thick soft paper that you use for soaking up and drying ink on a piece of paper.
blouse /blaʊ z, [AM ] blaʊ s/ (blouses ) N‑COUNT A blouse is a kind of shirt worn by a girl or woman.
blow
➊ VERB USES
➋ NOUN USES
➊ blow ◆◆◇ /bloʊ / (blows , blowing , blew , blown )
→ Please look at categories 15 to 22 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB When a wind or breeze blows , the air moves. □ [V ] We woke to find a gale blowing outside.
2 VERB If the wind blows something somewhere or if it blows there, the wind moves it there. □ [V n with adv] Strong winds blew away most of the dust. □ [V adv/prep] Her cap fell off in the street and blew away. □ [V ] The bushes and trees were blowing in the wind. [Also V n prep]
3 VERB If you blow , you send out a stream of air from your mouth. □ [V prep/adv] Danny rubbed his arms and blew on his fingers to warm them. □ [V ] Take a deep breath and blow.
4 VERB If you blow something somewhere, you move it by sending out a stream of air from your mouth. □ [V n with adv] He picked up his mug and blew off the steam. [Also V n prep]
5 VERB If you blow bubbles or smoke rings, you make them by blowing air out of your mouth through liquid or smoke. □ [V n] He blew a ring of blue smoke.
6 VERB When a whistle or horn blows or someone blows it, they make a sound by blowing into it. □ [V ] The whistle blew and the train slid forward. □ [V n] A guard was blowing his whistle.
7 VERB When you blow your nose, you force air out of it through your nostrils in order to clear it. □ [V n] He took out a handkerchief and blew his nose.
8 VERB To blow something out , off , or away means to remove or destroy it violently with an explosion. □ [V n with adv] The can exploded, wrecking the kitchen and bathroom and blowing out windows. □ [V n prep] Rival gunmen blew the city to bits.