blot
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a dark mark or stain made by a liquid like ink or paint.
n.a blemish, spot, or stain caused by a coloured substance, typically ink.
Simple“A large ink blot ruined the middle of his handwritten letter.”
In context“The artist accidentally dropped his brush, leaving a dark blot of crimson paint across the pristine white canvas.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to dry wet ink or liquid by pressing a piece of paper or cloth against it.
v.to dry a surface or writing by using absorbent material to soak up excess liquid.
Simple“She used a tissue to blot the spilled coffee from her desk.”
In context“After signing the document with a fountain pen, he carefully blotted the signature to prevent it from smearing.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to hide something or make it impossible to see, usually with 'out'.
v.to obscure, eclipse, or obliterate something from view or memory; frequently used in the phrasal verb 'blot out'.
Simple“The thick clouds moved in to blot out the sun.”
In context“He tried to blot out the painful memories of the accident by focusing entirely on his new job.”
- 04 C2 Proficiency
From Middle English blot (“blot, spot, stain, blemish”). Perhaps from Old Norse *blettr (“blot, stain”) (only attested in documents from after Old Norse transitioned to Icelandic blettur), or from Old French bloche (“clod of earth”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.