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blight

Pronunciation: /blʌɪt/
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Definition of blight

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1a plant disease, typically one caused by fungi such as mildews, rusts, and smuts:the vines suffered blight and disease potato blight
  • 2 [in singular] a thing that spoils or damages something:her remorse could be a blight on that happiness
  • the degeneration of a landscape or urban area as a result of neglect:the city’s high-rise social housing had become synonymous with urban blight

verb

  • 1 [with object] infect (plants) with blight: a peach tree blighted by leaf curl
  • 2spoil, harm, or destroy:the scandal blighted the careers of several leading politicians
  • (usually as adjective blighted) subject (an urban area) to neglect:plans to establish enterprise zones in blighted areas

Origin:

mid 16th century (denoting inflammation of the skin): of unknown origin

blight in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of blight in the US English dictionary