blot

 
Pronunciation: /blɒt/

noun

  • 1a dark mark or stain made by ink, paint, dirt, etc.: an ink blot
  • a shameful act or quality that damages an otherwise good character or reputation: the only blot on an otherwise clean campaign
  • a thing that mars the appearance of something: wind power turbines are a blot on the landscape
  • 2 Biochemistry a procedure in which proteins or nucleic acids separated on a gel are transferred directly to an immobilizing medium for identification.

verb (blots, blotting, blotted)

[with object]
  • 1dry (a wet surface or substance) using an absorbent material: Henry blotted the page
  • 2mark or stain (something): (as adjective blotted) the writing was messy and blotted
  • damage the good character or reputation of: the turmoil blotted his memory of the school
  • 3 (blot something out) cover writing or pictures with ink or paint so that they cannot be seen: Mary dug her brush into black paint and blotted out her picture
  • obscure a view: a dust shield blotting out the sun
  • obliterate or disregard something painful in one’s memory or existence: the concentration necessary to her job blotted out all the feelings
  • 4 Biochemistry transfer by means of a blot.

Phrases

blot one's copybook

British tarnish one’s good reputation: she saw her sister blot her copybook by being quoted in the press

Origin:

late Middle English: probably of Scandinavian origin and related to Old Norse blettr