# blood

/ˈbɫəd/ (US) · /blˈʌd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/blood
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. body fluid

noun · CEFR A2

the red liquid that flows through your heart and body.

For teachers: the red liquid that circulates in the arteries and veins of humans and other vertebrate animals, carrying oxygen and nutrients.

- He cut his finger on the sharp glass and a little blood came out.
- The doctor ordered a full panel of tests to check the patient's blood for signs of infection or vitamin deficiencies.

### 2. family and ancestry

noun · CEFR B2

your family background or the people you are related to by birth.

For teachers: lineage, ancestry, or family relationship; often used to distinguish biological relatives from those related by marriage.

- They are related by blood, so they look very similar to each other.
- Although they were raised in different countries, their shared blood gave them a sense of immediate connection when they finally met.

### 4. to give first experience

verb · CEFR C1 · British English

to give someone their first experience of a difficult or dangerous activity.

For teachers: to initiate someone into a particular activity, especially one that is difficult, competitive, or violent.

- The young player was blooded in the final ten minutes of the championship game.
- The manager decided to blood several academy players during the early rounds of the tournament to test their composure under pressure.

Usage: often used in the passive voice

Teaching tip: This is most common in sports or professional contexts to describe a young person's first real match or task.

## Examples

- The doctor needs to take a small sample of your blood.
- She cleaned the cut on her knee until the blood stopped flowing and then applied a bandage.
- The laboratory analysis revealed that his blood contained high levels of glucose, suggesting a need for immediate dietary adjustments and further medical consultation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.