blend

[ blend ]

verb (used with object)

, blend·ed or (Literary) blent, blend·ing.

1. to mix smoothly and inseparably together:

   to blend the ingredients in a recipe.

   Synonyms: commingle, mingle, compound, unite, amalgamate, combine

   Antonyms: separate

2. to mix (various sorts or grades) in order to obtain a particular kind or quality:

   Blend a little red paint with the blue paint.

3. to prepare by such mixture:

   This tea is blended by mixing chamomile with pekoe.

4. Phonetics. to pronounce (an utterance) as a combined sequence of sounds.

verb (used without object)

, blend·ed or (Literary) blent, blend·ing.

1. to mix or intermingle smoothly and inseparably:

   I can't get the eggs and cream to blend.

   Synonyms: coalesce, unite, amalgamate, combine, commingle, mingle

   Antonyms: separate

2. to fit or relate harmoniously; accord; go:

   The brown sofa did not blend with the purple wall.

3. to have no perceptible separation:

   Sea and sky seemed to blend.

noun

1. an act or manner of blending:

   tea of our own blend.

   Synonyms: amalgamation, combination

2. a mixture or kind produced by blending:

   a special blend of rye and wheat flours.

   Synonyms: amalgamation, combination

3. Linguistics. a word made by putting together parts of other words, as motel, made from motor and hotel, brunch, from breakfast and lunch, or guesstimate, from guess and estimate.
4. Phonetics. a sequence of two or more consonant sounds within a syllable, as the bl in blend; consonant cluster.

verb phrase

1. to escape attention by looking or acting like other members of a group or like the surrounding environment: salamanders that blend in with mossy surfaces.

   tourists who try to blend in with the locals;

   salamanders that blend in with mossy surfaces.

blend

/ blɛnd /

verb

1. to mix or mingle (components) together thoroughly
2. tr to mix (different grades or varieties of tea, whisky, tobacco, etc) to produce a particular flavour, consistency, etc
3. intr to look good together; harmonize
4. intr (esp of colours) to shade imperceptibly into each other

noun

1. a mixture or type produced by blending
2. the act of blending
3. Also calledportmanteau word a word formed by joining together the beginning and the end of two other words

   "brunch" is a blend of "breakfast" and "lunch"

Other Words From

• non·blended adjective
• non·blending adjective noun
• re·blend verb reblended or reblent reblending
• un·blended adjective
• well-blended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blend¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English blenden (the first e not satisfactorily explained) “to mix”; akin to Old English blandan “to mix”; cognate with or partially derived from the Old Norse verb blanda (from the present stem blend- ), Old High German blantan “to mix”

Word History and Origins

Origin of blend¹

Old English blandan ; related to blendan to deceive, Old Norse blanda , Old High German blantan

Synonym Study

See mix.

Example Sentences

It’s a unique blend of vintage cinema and modern soul.

From Los Angeles Times

Denis Villeneuve conveyed the gist over the space of a couple of hours, aided by an impressive blend of sound and visual editing and cinematographic sorcery.

From Salon

“Unfortunately, people are now feeling forced to transition faster than maybe they would have chosen to … They just want to blend in and not be easily identifiable as trans, and that's very concerning.”

From Salon

It’s easy to accept Sola Fadiran as both Capulet and Lady Capulet, as the two figures blend into Juliet’s composite parent.

From Los Angeles Times

Making the role his own with his distinctive blend of solemn gravity and ironic urbanity, Parsons is the standout in the cast.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• amalgam
• brew
• combination
• concoction
• fusion
• mixture
• synthesis