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
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Those cases were discovered using blood, or serology, testing and seem to have been transmitted from sick animals, not people. Erika Edwards, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 The blood of each nation courses through the American vein and feeds the spirit that compels us to involve ourselves in the fate of this good earth. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
One spectator is dead and former President Donald Trump was blooding following a shooting during a rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Joanna Moriello, New York Daily News, 14 July 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for blood 

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 14 Nov. 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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