blood

[ bluhd ]

noun

1. the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates, in humans consisting of plasma in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
2. the vital principle; life:

   The excitement had got into the very blood of the nation.

3. a person or group regarded as a source of energy, vitality, or vigor:

   It's time we got some new blood in this company.

4. one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing cheerfulness.
5. the shedding of blood; slaughter; murder:

   to avenge the blood of his father.

6. the juice or sap of plants:

   the blood of the grape.

7. temperament; disposition:

   a person of hot blood.

8. physical nature of human beings:

   the frailty of our blood.

9. Chiefly British. a high-spirited dandy; an adventuresome youth:

   the young bloods of Cambridge.

10. a profligate or rake.
11. physical and cultural extraction:

    It was a trait that seemed to be in their blood.

12. royal extraction:

    a prince of the blood.

13. descent from a common ancestor; ancestry; lineage:

    related by blood.

    Synonyms: stock, pedigree, parentage, genealogy, extraction, constitution, temper, spirit, personality, nature, mettle, makeup, grain, character

14. recorded and respected ancestry; purebred breeding.
15. Slang.
    1. a Black person, especially a young Black man.
    2. brother ( def 8 ).

verb (used with object)

1. Hunting. to give (hounds) a first sight or taste of blood. Compare flesh ( def 14 ).
2. to stain with blood.

Blood

¹

/ blʌd /

noun

1. BloodThomas?16181680MIrishTRAVEL AND EXPLORATION: adventurer Thomas , known as Colonel Blood . ?1618–80, Irish adventurer, who tried to steal the crown jewels (1671)

blood

²

/ blʌd /

noun

1. a reddish fluid in vertebrates that is pumped by the heart through the arteries and veins, supplies tissues with nutrients, oxygen, etc, and removes waste products. It consists of a fluid (see blood plasma ) containing cells (erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets) haemalhaematicsanguineous
2. a similar fluid in such invertebrates as annelids and arthropods
3. bloodshed, esp when resulting in murder
4. the guilt or responsibility for killing or injuring (esp in the phrase to have blood on one's hands or head )
5. life itself; lifeblood
6. relationship through being of the same family, race, or kind; kinship
7. blood, sweat and tears informal.
   hard work and concentrated effort
8. flesh and blood
   1. near kindred or kinship, esp that between a parent and child
   2. human nature (esp in the phrase it's more than flesh and blood can stand )
9. ethnic or national descent

   of Spanish blood

10. in one's blood
    as a natural or inherited characteristic or talent
11. the blood
    royal or noble descent

    a prince of the blood

12. temperament; disposition; temper
13. 1. good or pure breeding; pedigree
    2. ( as modifier )

       blood horses

14. people viewed as members of a group, esp as an invigorating force (in the phrases new blood, young blood )
15. rare.
    a dashing young man; dandy; rake
16. the sensual or carnal nature of man
17. obsolete.
    one of the four bodily humours See humour
18. bad blood
    hatred; ill feeling
19. blood is thicker than water
    family duties and loyalty outweigh other ties
20. have one's blood up or get one's blood up
    to be or cause to be angry or inflamed
21. in cold blood
    showing no passion; deliberately; ruthlessly
22. make one's blood boil
    to cause to be angry or indignant
23. make one's blood run cold
    to fill with horror

verb

1. hunting to cause (young hounds) to taste the blood of a freshly killed quarry and so become keen to hunt
2. hunting to smear the cheeks or forehead of (a person) with the blood of the kill as an initiation in hunting
3. to initiate (a person) to an activity or organization, esp by real-life experience

blood

/ blŭd /

1. The fluid tissue that circulates through the body of a vertebrate animal by the pumping action of the heart. Blood is the transport medium by which oxygen and nutrients are carried to body cells and waste products are picked up for excretion. Blood consists of plasma in which red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
2. A fluid that is similar in function in many invertebrate animals.

blood

1. The fluid circulating through the heart , arteries , veins , and capillaries of the circulatory system . Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the body and removes waste materials and carbon dioxide . It is composed of plasma (mainly water, but with a mixture of hormones , nutrients, gas es, antibodies , and wastes), red blood cells (which carry oxygen), white blood cells (which help combat infection ), and platelets (which help the blood clot).

Other Words From

• bloodlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English blo(o)d, Old English blōd; cognate with Old Frisian, Old Saxon blōd, Old High German bluot ( German Blut ), Old Norse blōth, Gothic bloth, from Germanic blōdam

Word History and Origins

Origin of blood¹

Old English blōd ; related to Old Norse blōth , Old High German bluot

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. get / have one's blood up, to become or be enraged or impassioned:

   Injustice of any sort always gets my blood up.

2. have someone's blood on one's head / hands, to be to blame for someone's affliction or death:

   Though a criminal, he had no blood on his hands.

3. in cold blood, without pity or mercy; ruthlessly:

   The dictator, in cold blood, ordered the execution of all his political enemies.

4. make one's blood boil, to inspire resentment, anger, or indignation:

   Such carelessness makes my blood boil.

5. make one's blood run cold, to fill with terror; frighten:

   The dark, deserted street in that unfamiliar neighborhood made her blood run cold.

6. taste blood, to experience a new sensation, usually a violent or destructive one, and acquire an appetite for it:

   Once the team had tasted blood, there was no preventing them from winning by a wide margin.

7. sweat blood. sweat ( def 38 ).

More idioms and phrases containing blood

In addition to the idiom beginning with blood , also see bad blood ; draw blood ; flesh and blood ; in cold blood ; in one's blood ; make one's blood boil ; make one's blood run cold ; new blood ; out for (blood) ; run in the blood (family) ; scream bloody murder ; shed blood ; sporting blood ; sweat blood . Also see under bleed .

Example Sentences

Mrs MacDonald was giving evidence for a second day having earlier told the jury that her husband had left her drenched in blood after attacking her in front of their children as he suspected she was having an affair.

From BBC

Two GPs arrived, but Mrs MacKinnon said: "They were trying to tend to the wounds, but there was too much blood."

From BBC

One of Manson's young followers, Susan Atkins, stabbed Tate to death and scrawled "PIG" on the home's front door with the actress's blood.

From BBC

The ISS has six dedicated labs for experiments, and astronauts wear heart, brain or blood monitors to measure their responses to the challenging physical environment.

From BBC

Instead, the onus is on men to request a blood test from their GP once they are over 50.

From BBC

Related Words

• juice