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blood

Pronunciation: /blʌd/
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Definition of blood

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen to and carbon dioxide from the tissues of the body:drops of blood
  • an internal bodily fluid in invertebates which performs a similar function to blood in humans and other vertebrates.
  • (bloods) blood samples or tests:his bloods were normal a nurse was out on the corridor taking bloods from the patients

    • Blood consists of a mildly alkaline aqueous fluid (plasma) containing red cells (erythrocytes), white cells (leucocytes), and platelets; it is red when oxygenated and purple when deoxygenated. Red blood cells carry the protein haemoglobin, which gives blood its colour and can combine with oxygen, thus enabling the blood to carry oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. White blood cells protect the body against the invasion of foreign agents (e.g. bacteria). Platelets and other factors present in plasma are concerned in the clotting of blood, preventing haemorrhage. In medieval science and medicine, blood was regarded as one of the four bodily humours, believed to be associated with a confident and optimistic temperament

  • 2violence involving bloodshed:a commando operation full of blood and danger
  • 3fiery or passionate temperament:a ritual that fires up his blood
  • 4 [with modifier] family background; descent or lineage:she must have Irish blood in her
  • [count noun] a person of specified descent:a mixed blood
  • [count noun] US informal a fellow black person: any blood who opted out was ostracized
  • 5 [count noun] dated a fashionable and dashing young man:a group of young bloods

verb

[with object] chiefly British
  • 1initiate (someone) in a particular activity:clubs are too slow to blood young players
  • 2 Hunting smear the face of (a novice) with the blood of the kill.
  • give (a hound) a first taste of blood.

Phrases

be like getting blood out of (or from) a stone (North American also turnip)

be extremely difficult (said in reference to obtaining something from someone):getting a story out of her is like getting blood out of a stone!

blood and guts

informal violence and bloodshed, especially in fiction: I like blood and guts, adventure, that kind of thing

blood and thunder

informal unrestrained and violent action or behaviour: [as modifier]:a typical blood-and-thunder cup tie

blood is thicker than water

proverb family relationships and loyalties are the strongest and most important ones.

one's blood is up

one is in a fighting mood.

blood, sweat, and tears

extremely hard work; unstinting effort: he’s going through all the blood, sweat, and tears involved in getting a PhD

blood will tell

proverb family characteristics cannot be concealed.

first blood

  • 1the first shedding of blood, especially in a boxing match or formerly in duelling with swords.
  • 2the first point or advantage gained in a contest:King drew first blood when he took the opening set

give blood

allow blood to be removed medically from one’s body in order to be stored for use in transfusions: the willingness of thousands of donors to give blood

have blood on one's hands

be responsible for someone’s death: he has my son’s blood on his hands

in one's blood

ingrained in or fundamental to one’s character:racing is in his blood

make someone's blood boil

informal infuriate someone: it made her blood boil every time he came near

make someone's blood run cold

horrify someone: their howl will make your blood run cold

new (or fresh) blood

new members admitted to a group, especially as an invigorating force: the need to bring in new blood and fresh ideas

of the blood (royal)

literary royal.

out for (someone's) blood

set on getting revenge: make no mistake about it, we shall be out for blood

taste blood

achieve an early success that stimulates further efforts:the speculators have tasted blood and could force a devaluation of the currency

young blood

a younger member or members of a group, especially as an invigorating force: farming lacks young blood

Origin:

Old English blōd, of Germanic origin; related to German Blut and Dutch bloed

blood in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of blood in the US English dictionary

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