blotch

[ bloch ]

noun

1. a large, irregular spot or blot.

   Synonyms: stain, blemish, mark, splotch

2. Plant Pathology.
   1. a diseased, discolored spot or area on a plant.
   2. a disease so characterized, usually accompanied by cankers and lesions.
3. a skin eruption; blemish.

verb (used with object)

1. to mark with blotches; blot, spot, or blur:

   The floor of the forest was blotched with cool, dark moss.

adjective

1. Textiles. of or relating to blotch printing, or to the colored ground produced by this process.

blotch

/ blɒtʃ /

noun

1. an irregular spot or discoloration, esp a dark and relatively large one such as an ink stain

verb

1. to become or cause to become marked by such discoloration
2. intr (of a pen or ink) to write or flow unevenly in blotches

blotch

/ blŏch /

1. Any of several plant diseases caused by fungi and resulting in brown or black dead areas on leaves or fruit.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blotch¹

1595–1605; perhaps blend of blot ¹ + botch ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of blotch¹

C17: probably from botch , influenced by blot ¹

Example Sentences

Her left eye started twitching, and crimson blotches formed on her neck and cheeks.

From Literature

In its state of abandoned tear-down, the venue offers melodious visual rhymes: electrical cords dangling from the ceiling ape Wool’s snarls of found-wire sculpture; crumbling plaster mirrors the attitudinal blotches of his oils and inks.

From New York Times

Creamy white blooms blotched with maroon centers flood the late spring garden with sweet perfume.

From Seattle Times

“If it does easily, you may not need as much water. If it’s difficult to come out, or comes out in blotches, use the wet method.”

From Seattle Times

Something huge...something bigger than a house and with gray, blotched skin.

From Literature

Related Words

• blemish
• blot