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blood

Pronunciation: /blʌd/

The English word “blood” has 18 meanings listed here.

noun

  1. A vital liquid flowing in the bodies of many types of animals that usually conveys nutrients and oxygen. In vertebrates, it is colored red by hemoglobin, is conveyed by arteries and veins, is pumped by the heart and is usually generated in bone marrow.
  2. A family relationship due to birth, such as that between siblings; contrasted with relationships due to marriage or adoption. See blood relative, blood relation.
  3. A person or people related to one by birth; one's biological relative or relatives.
  4. One of the four humours in the human body.
  5. The endometrial lining as it is shed in menstruation; menstrual fluid or period blood.
  6. A blood test or blood sample.
  7. The sap or juice which flows in or from plants.
  8. The juice of anything, especially if red.
  9. A temper of mind; a disposition; a mood.
  10. A lively, showy man; a rake; a dandy.
  11. A blood horse, one of good pedigree.
  12. Bloodshed.
  13. A friend or acquaintance, especially one who is black and male.
  14. Lean, especially that is red.

verb

  1. To cause something to be covered with blood; to bloody.
  2. To let blood (from); to bleed.
  3. To initiate into warfare or a blood sport, traditionally by smearing with the blood of the first kill witnessed.
  4. To make eager for bloodshed or combat; to incite or enrage against.

Etymology

From Middle English blood, from Old English blōd, from Proto-West Germanic *blōd, from Proto-Germanic *blōþą, possibly from Proto-Indo-European *bʰel- ("to swell") + -ó- (thematic vowel) + -to (nominalizer), i.e. "that which bursts out". Cognate with Scots blude, bluid (“blood”), North Frisian blud, blödj, Blör (“blood”), Saterland Frisian Bloud (“blood”), West Frisian bloed (“blood”), Cimbrian…

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Definitions are from Wiktionary, extracted by Kaikki.org, and are available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.