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**blood.let-ting** /'blʌd,letɪŋ/ *n* [U] **1** killing; BLOODSHED **2** the former medical practice of treating sick people by removing some of their blood
**'blood lust** *n* [C;U] a strong desire to kill or wound
**blood.mo.bile** /'blʌdmə,biːl/ *n AmE* a special vehicle with equipment to take blood from people who are giving their blood for the treatment of others
**'blood ,money** *n* [U] **1** money paid for murdering or for helping murderers **2** money paid to the family of a murdered person
**'blood ,plasma** *n* [U] PLASMA
**'blood ,poisoning** also **septicaemia** *tech—n* [U] a serious condition in which an infection spreads from a small area of the body through the blood
**'blood ,pressure** *n* [C;U] the measurable force with which blood travels through the body: *He suffers from high blood pressure.*
**,blood 'red** *adj* red like blood: *a blood red sunset*
**'blood re,lation** *n* a person related by birth rather than by marriage
**blood.shed** /'blʌdʃed/ *n* [U] the flowing of blood or killing of people, usually in fighting; SLAUGHTER: *To prevent further bloodshed, the two sides agreed to a truce.*
**blood.shot** /'blʌdʃɒt ||-ʃɑːt/ *adj* (of the eyes) having the white part coloured red: *His eyes were bloodshot from too much drinking.*
**'blood sport** *n* [usually pl.] *derog* the hunting and killing of birds and animals for pleasure: *The group campaigns against all blood sports, especially foxhunting.*
**blood.stain** /'blʌdsteɪn/ *n* a mark or spot of blood: *There were bloodstains on the floor where they had been fighting.* **—--ed** *adj*: *bloodstained clothing*
**blood.stock** /'blʌdstɒk ||-stɑːk/ *n* [U] horses that have been bred for racing: *a bloodstock auction*
**blood.stream** /'blʌdstriːm/ *n* [the] the blood as it flows round the body: *The drug is injected directly into the bloodstream.*
**blood.suck.er** /'blʌd,sʌkəʳ/ *n* **1** any creature, such as an insect or LEECH that bites and then sucks blood from the wound **2** *derog infml* a person who uses other people for his/her own advantage, especially to get money from them
**blood.thirst.y** /'blʌd,θɜːstɪ ||-3ːr-/ *adj* **1** taking pleasure in killing and violence; eager for BLOODSHED **2** dealing with killing and violence: *a bloodthirsty movie* **—ily** *adv* **—iness** *n* [U]
**blood trans,fusion** *n* [C;U] the process of putting blood from one person into another person's bloodstream, usually after an accident or illness
**blood type** *n* a BLOOD GROUP
**blood ,vessel** *n* any of the tubes of various sizes through which blood flows in the body
**blood.y¹** /'blʌdi/ *adj* **1** bleeding or covered with blood: *a bloody nose* **2** with a lot of wounding and killing: *a bloody battle* **➔ compare BLOODLESS** **—ily** *adv* **—iness** *n* [U]
**bloody²** *adj, adv [A] especially BrE infml, not polite* **1** (used for giving force to an expression or judgment): *Don't be such a bloody fool! | It's bloody marvellous! | Bloody hell!* **2** (used as an almost meaningless addition to angry speech): *I got my bloody foot caught in the bloody chair, didn't I? | 'Will you lend me £10?' 'Not bloody likely!'* (=certainly not!)
**bloody 'mary** *n* a drink made by mixing VODKA and TOMATO juice
**Bloody Mary** ➔ see MARY I
**bloody-'minded** *adj BrE infml* opposing the wishes of others unreasonably and on purpose; intentionally unhelpful and OBSTINATE **—ness** *n* [U]
**Bloody 'Sunday** Sunday, 30th January 1972, when British soldiers in Northern Ireland used force to control a large crowd of people who were protesting against the policy of INTERNMENT (=putting people in prison without a trial if they were believed to be members of the IRA). 13 people were killed when the soldiers fired at the crowd.
**Bloody 'Tower, the** a part of the Tower of London. It was originally known as the Garden Tower, but after two young princes, the nephews of Richard III, were believed to be murdered there in 1483 it became known as the Bloody Tower.
**bloom¹** /bluːm/ *n* **1** [C] *apprec.* a flower: *What beautiful blooms! | The roses are in (full) bloom.* (=flowering) **2** [S;U] a covering of fine powder on ripe GRAPES, PLUMS etc **3** [the+of] *especially lit* the best or most favourable time of: *in the bloom of youth | the first bloom of love*
**bloom²** *v* [I] **1** to produce flowers, come into flower, or be in flower: *The roses are blooming.* **2** [usually in progressive forms] to be in a healthy growing state; FLOURISH: *The children are blooming.* **➔ compare BLOSSOM²**
**Bloom, Le.o.pold** /'liːəpəʊld/ the main character in the novel *Ulysses* by James JOYCE, which tells the story of one day in Bloom's life. People in Dublin celebrate 'Bloomsday' on June 16th, the day that Bloom made his journey around the city.
**Bloom, Orlando** (1977-) a British film and television actor, best known for playing the part of Legolas in the three *Lord of the Rings* films directed by Peter Jackson. His other films include *Wilde* and *Pirates of the Caribbean*.
**Bloom.berg, Michael** /'bluːmbɜːɡ ||-b3ːrɡ/ (1942-) a Republican politician and successful BUSINESSMAN who became MAYOR of New York City in 2001.
**bloom.er** /'bluːməʳ/ *n* **1** *BrE humor infml* a stupid mistake: *I made a terrible bloomer.* **2** *BrE* a loaf of bread which is baked at the bottom of the OVEN and has lines marked on the top
**bloom.ers** /'bluːməzl|-ərz/ *n* [P] **1** a woman's garment of short loose trousers gathered at the knee, worn in Europe and America in the late 19th century **2** *infml* for KNICKERS **➔ see PAIR (USAGE)**
**bloom.ing** /'bluːmɪŋ, 'blumʌn/ *adj, adv [A] especially BrE* (used for giving force to an expression): *It's blooming ridiculous!*
**Bloo.ming.dale's** /'bluːmɪŋdeɪlz/ a large DEPARTMENT STORE in New York City. It sells many different kinds of goods but is known especially for selling expensive clothes.
**Blooms.bu.ry** /'bluːmzbe rɪ/ a busy area in the centre of London which has attractive buildings and SQUARES (=open areas with grass and trees, surrounded on four sides by roads and buildings), where many writers and artists lived in the early part of the 20th century
**'Bloomsbury ,Group, the** a group of artists and writers who lived and met each other regularly in Bloomsbury in the early part of the 20th century. The most famous member of the group was Virginia Woolf.
**Blooms.day** /'bluːmzdeɪ/ June 16th, celebrated in Dublin as the day in the life of Leopold Bloom which is described in James JOYCE's novel *Ulysses*
**bloop.er** /'bluːpəʳ/ *n AmE humor slang* a stupid mistake
**blos.som¹** /'blɒsəm ||'blɑː-/ *n* **1** [C] the flower of a tree or bush, especially one that produces fruit: *apple blossoms* **2** [U] the mass of such flowers on a single plant, tree, or bush: *a tree covered in blossom | pear trees in blossom* (=blossoming) | *cherry blossom*
**blossom²** *v* [I] **1** (of a plant, especially a tree or bush that produces fruit) to produce flowers: *The apple trees are blossoming.* **2** [(out)] to develop in a pleasing or favourable way: *a blossoming friendship | Jane is blossoming (out) into a beautiful girl. | He used to be very quiet, but he's really blossomed out (=become cheerful and wanting to talk) since he came to live here.* **➔ compare BLOOM²**
**blot¹** /blɒt || blɑːt/ *n* [(on)] **1** a spot or mark, especially of ink, that spoils or makes dirty: *a blot of ink on the paper | (fig.) That hideous building is a real blot on the landscape.* (=it spoils the surroundings) **2** a fault or shameful action, especially by someone usually of good character: *a blot on one's character*
**blot²** *v -tt-* [T] **1** to make blots on: *She blotted the paper with ink spots.* **2** to dry with blotting paper **3 blot one's copy-book** *infml* to spoil one's good record: *She had a clean driving licence until she blotted her copybook by speeding.*
**blot sthg. ⇔ out** *phr v [T]* to make (something) difficult or impossible to see; cover; hide: *The mist blotted out the sun.*
**blotch** /blɒtʃ || blɑːtʃ/ *n* a large irregular spot or mark on the skin, your clothes etc: *a blotch of ink on my dress* **—y** *adj*: *blotchy skin*