blood

1 of 2

noun

often attributive
1
a(1)
: the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body
(2)
: a comparable fluid of an invertebrate
b
: a fluid resembling blood
2
: the shedding of blood
also : the taking of life
3
a
: lifeblood
broadly : life
b
: human stock or lineage
especially : royal lineage
a prince of the blood
c
: relationship by descent from a common ancestor : kinship
d
: persons related through common descent : kindred
e(1)
: honorable or high birth or descent
(2)
: descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree
4
a(1)
: blood regarded as the seat of the emotions : temper
Chide him for his faults, and do it reverently, / When you perceive his blood inclined to mirth; / But, being moody, give him line and scope …William Shakespeare
(2)
: the one of the four humors (see humor entry 1 sense 2c) in ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be hot and moist and to cause cheerfulness and optimism
b
obsolete : lust
c
: a man who dresses showily and behaves in an immoral or improper way : rake
5
: members of a team, staff, or organization : personnel
a company in need of new blood
6
informal : an African American male
used especially among Black people

blood

2 of 2

verb

blooded; blooding; bloods

transitive verb

1
: to stain or wet with blood
2
archaic : bleed sense 1
3
: to expose (a hunting dog) to sight, scent, or taste of the blood of its prey
4
: to give experience to
troops blooded in battle
Phrases
in one's blood
: ingrained in one's nature : occurring as an innate or seemingly hereditary principle, inclination, or talent
with two parents who are painters, art is in her blood

Examples of blood in a Sentence

Noun The accident victim has already lost a lot of blood. the blood in your veins
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Trad Reds take a blood oath never to drive or even ride in a car with amber rear indicators. Quartz Staff, Quartz, 19 Mar. 2024 In both an Instagram video and an essay for E!’s website, Knight, 42, opened up about her struggles with a rare blood disorder called microcytic anemia. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Of that group, 19 percent primarily use unfiltered tap water, which was associated with a greater increase in blood lead levels. Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2024 The gallows were there; so were the ropes and, most chilling, the screaming faces of white men and women yelling for the blood of Mike Pence. Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Mar. 2024 Gold was in his blood—his father was a skilled engraver of it—but the family was always on the brink of poverty. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 18 Mar. 2024 Every so often, there’d be bright red blood on my toilet paper—but barely any. Julia Ries, SELF, 18 Mar. 2024 New studies by the National Institutes of Health failed to find evidence of brain injury in scans or blood markers of the diplomats and spies who suffered symptoms of Havana syndrome, bolstering the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies about the strange health incidents. Julian E. Barnes, New York Times, 18 Mar. 2024 Swelling can also be a sign of heart failure, a chronic condition in which the heart pumps blood inefficiently. Carey Rossi, Health, 17 Mar. 2024
Verb
Lately, coach Carlo Ancelotti has decided against blooding players from the Castilla youth setup, namely Álvaro Rodríguez, Sergio Arribas, Carlos Dotor, and Nico Paz, like in the loss to Real Sociedad at the Reale Arena in San Sebastián on Tuesday. Henry Flynn, Forbes, 4 May 2023 But why would blood even travel that long via drone, anyways? Lauren Sigfusson, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2017 Having a hepatitis B or C infection can also be a trigger, as can blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 8 Aug. 2022 Haji believes Vipingo Ridge's efforts to blood the next generation of golfing talent are reflective of the sport's increasing popularity in Kenya. Jack Bantock, CNN, 6 May 2022 How long after getting the J&J vaccine can blood clots occur? Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY, 19 Dec. 2021 The challenge of 2020 will be starting to blood them in the big leagues without overwhelming them, allowing the players to finish their development at a reasonable pace. Jon Meoli, baltimoresun.com, 7 Apr. 2021 Some COVID-19 patients have been found to have blood oxygen levels below 65%. Mark Johnson, USA TODAY, 18 May 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blood.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English blōd; akin to Old High German bluot blood

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blood was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near blood

Cite this Entry

“Blood.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blood. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blood

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the red fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal and that brings nourishment and oxygen to and carries away waste products from all parts of the body
b
: a fluid resembling blood
2
a
: lineage sense 2, descent
especially : royal lineage
b
: relationship through a common ancestor : kinship
3

blood

2 of 2 verb
: to give experience to
Etymology

Noun

Old English blōd "blood"

Verb

from an earlier sense, meaning "to smear the face of an inexperienced fox hunter with blood of the fox killed on his first hunt"

Medical Definition

blood

noun
1
: the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body
2
: a fluid of an invertebrate comparable to blood
3
: the one of the four humors (see humor sense 2) in ancient and medieval physiology that was believed to be hot and moist and to cause cheerfulness and optimism

More from Merriam-Webster on blood

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