blot

blot¹ [blɔt US bla:t] v past tense and past participle blotted present participle blotting [T]

1.) to make a wet surface become dry by pressing soft paper or cloth on it

2.) blot your copybook

BrE informal to do something that spoils the idea that people have of you

blot out [blot sth<=>out] phr v

1.) to cover or hide something completely

▪ Thick white smoke blotted out the sun.

2.) if you blot out an unpleasant memory, a thought etc, you deliberately try to forget it

▪ She said she took drugs to blot out her problems.

blot up [blot sth<=>up] phr v

to remove liquid from a surface by pressing soft paper or cloth onto it

blot ²

blot² n

[Date: 1300-1400; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language]

1.) a mark or dirty spot on something, especially made by ink

▪ ink blots

2.) a building, structure etc that is ugly and spoils the appearance of a place

▪ The new power station is a blot on the landscape .

3.) something that spoils the good opinion that people have of someone or something

blot on

▪ The increase in juvenile crime is a blot on our time.