blæŋk adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 a (of paper)
not written or printed
on. b (of a document)
with spaces left
for a
signature or details. 2 a not filled;
empty (a blank space). b
unrelieved; sheer (a blank wall). 3 a having or
showing no
interest or
expression (a blank face). b
void of
incident or
result. c puzzled, nonplussed. d having (temporarily) no
knowledge or
understanding (my
mind went blank). 4 (with neg. import)
complete,
downright (a blank
refusal; blank despair). 5 euphem. used in
place of an
adjective regarded as
coarse or
abusive. --n. 1 a a
space left to be filled in a
document. b a document having blank spaces to be filled. 2 (in full blank cartridge) a
cartridge containing
gunpowder but no
bullet, used for
training, etc. 3 an empty space or
period of
time. 4 a a coin-disc
before stamping. b a
metal or
wooden block before
final shaping. 5 a a
dash written
instead of a
word or
letter,
esp. instead of an
obscenity. b euphem. used in place of a
noun regarded as coarse. 6 a
domino with
one or
both halves blank. 7 a
lottery ticket that gains no prize. 8
the white centre of the
target in
archery etc. --v.tr. 1 (usu. foll. by
off, out)
screen,
obscure (clouds blanked
out the sun). 2 (usu. foll. by out)
cut (a metal blank). 3 US
defeat without allowing to
score. øblank
cheque 1 a cheque with the
amount left for the payee to
fill in. 2 colloq.
unlimited freedom of
action (cf.
CARTE BLANCHE). blank test Chem. a
scientific test
done without a
specimen, to
verify the
absence of the effects of reagents etc. blank
verse unrhymed verse, esp.
iambic pentameters.
draw a blank
elicit no
response;
fail. øøblankly adv. blankness n. [ME f. OF blanc white, ult. f. Gmc]