Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

blight

Pronunciation: /blʌɪt/
Translate blight | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
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

Nearby words

  |  Cite

More words in this category

Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

monocular

/ məˈnɒkjʊlə /
adjective , noun
with, for, or in one eye …