bleeper
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(someone) using a bleeper: They're bleeping you, doc-
tor. 3 [T(OUT)] infml to prevent (a word or words) from being
heard on television or radio with bleeps: The obscene words
in the song were bleeped (out).
bleep·er /'bli:pər/ BrE || beeper, pager AmE — n a small
machine which can be carried in a pocket, fastened to
clothing etc and which bleeps when the attention of the
person wearing it is needed
blem·ish¹ /'blemɪʃ/ v [T] to spoil the beauty or perfection of:
His reputation was blemished by a newspaper article alleging
he'd evaded his taxes. → see also UNBLEMISHED
blemish² n something that spoils perfection: The wine
glasses were sold at half price because of blemishes in the
crystal.
blench /blentʃ/ v [I] to make a sudden movement in fear;
RECOIL
blend¹ /blend/ v 1 [T] to mix together thoroughly, especially
so that the different parts can no longer be separated: Blend
the sugar, flour, and eggs (together). | Blend the flour into the
eggs and sugar. → see MIX (USAGE) 2 [T] to produce (tea,
coffee WHISKY etc) out of a mixture of several varieties:
blended whisky 3 [I(IN, into, with)] to become combined, espe-
cially so as to produce a pleasing effect; HARMONIZE: Their
voices blend well with each other. | These houses seem to blend
into the countryside.
blend² n something produced by blending: a good blend of
coffee | His speech to the staff was a judicious blend of
optimism and caution.
blend·er /'blendər/ also liquidizer BrE — n a small electric
machine used in the kitchen for making solid foods into
soups, juices etc
Blen·heim Pal·ace /,blenɪm 'pælɪs/ a very large and
beautiful house in Oxfordshire in the UK, owned by the
family of the Duke of Marlborough. It can be visited by the
public, and its gardens are a typical example of the work of
Capability BROWN.
bless /bles/ v blessed or blest /blest/ [T] 1 to ask God's
favour or protection for: The priest blessed the new ship. 2 to
make or call holy: The priest blessed the bread and wine. |
Bless the name of the Lord! 3 old-fash (in expressions of
good-humoured surprise): Bless me! He's won again! | Well,
I'm blessed! → compare DAMN⁴ 4 be blessed with to be
lucky enough to have: I've always been blessed with good
health. 5 Bless you! (used when someone has sneezed
(SNEEZE))
bless·ed /'blesɪd/ adj 1 holy; favoured by God: the Blessed
Virgin (=the mother of Christ) | Blessed are the peace-
makers. 2 [A] bringing happiness; desirable: a few moments
of blessed silence 3 [A] infml (used to give force to expressions
of annoyance): It pours with rain every blessed time I go out.
—ly adv —ness n [U]
bless·ing /'blesɪŋ/ n 1 [C(on, upon)] an act of asking or
receiving God's favour, help, or protection: The blessing of
the Lord be upon you all. | to ask a blessing (=say a prayer of
thanks to God) before a meal 2 [C] a gift from God or
anything that brings happiness or good fortune: When you
feel sad count your blessings. (=remember how lucky you
are) | It was a blessing that no one was injured. | This rain will
be a blessing for the farmers. 3 [U] infml approval or encour-
agement: The government has given its blessing to the new
plan. | Do you think this was done with the President's
blessing? 4 a blessing in disguise something that seems
unpleasant but is really a good thing after all: The storm was
a blessing in disguise because it kept us at home when you
phoned. → see also MIXED BLESSING
bleth·er /'bleðər/ also blather v [I(ON)] especially ScotE & NEngE
to talk for a long time, especially foolishly or untruthfully;
CHATTER —blether n [C;U]
blew /blu:/ v past tense of BLOW
Bligh, Captain William /blaɪ/ (1754-?1817) an officer in the
British navy who was in command of the ship HMS BOUNTY.
Bligh was unpopular because he was a very cruel and strict
leader, so the men on his ship attacked him, took power from
him, and made him leave in a small boat. The film MUTINY ON
THE BOUNTY is about this story, but some people now believe
that Captain Bligh was not as cruel as shown in this story.
blight¹ /blaɪt/ n 1 [U] a disease of plants that results in the
drying up and dying of the diseased parts 2 [C] something
that causes annoyance, unhappiness, or destruction: The
accident cast a blight on our happiness. 3 [U] a condition of
ugliness, disorder, and decay: the problem of inner-city blight
blight² v [T] to infect or spoil with blight: blighted fruit trees
(fig.) Her life was blighted by ill health. | blighted hopes
blight·er /'blaɪtər/ n BrE old-fash slang 1 a person, especially a
man, you do not like: I told that blighter not to come here
again! 2 any person: You lucky blighter! | Poor little
blighter!
Bligh·ty /'blaɪti/ old use BrE a name for Britain, which was
used especially by British soldiers and other British people
working abroad for the British Empire during the 19th and
early 20th century
bli·mey /'blaɪmi/ interj BrE slang (used for expressing surprise)
blimp /blɪmp/ n a small AIRSHIP
Blimp n → see COLONEL BLIMP
blind¹ /blaɪnd/ adj 1 unable to see: blind from birth | blind in
one eye | [also n, the+P] a special library service for the blind:
→ see also COLOUR-BLIND 2 [A] intended for blind people: a
blind school 3 [F(to)] unable or unwilling to recognize or
understand (something bad): They seem to be blind to the
possible consequences of this policy. | He is blind to his
faults. 4 without thought, judgment, or reason: blind
haste/anger | in a blind panic | blind faith/loyalty 5 operat-
ing without purpose or human control: the blind forces of
nature 6 done wholly by using instruments within an
aircraft and without looking outside: blind flying | flying
blind | a blind landing 7 at or in which it is difficult to see:
a dangerous blind corner/turning 8 [A] BrE slang (used to add
force to an expression) slightest: I tried to warn her, but she
didn't take a blind bit of notice. | It doesn't make a blind bit of
difference. 9 (as) blind as a bat infml having difficulty in
seeing: I'm as blind as a bat without my glasses. 10 (a case
of) the blind leading the blind people with little informa-
tion advising people with even less 11 turn a blind eye (to)
to pretend not to see or notice (something, especially
something illegal): You shouldn't really drink here, but I'm
willing to turn a blind eye (to it). → see also effing and
blinding (EFF) and compare turn a deaf ear to (DEAF) —
adv —ness n [U]
blind² v [T] 1 to make unable to see, either for a time or for
ever: The glare of the headlights blinded me for a moment |
blinded by the smoke | The soldier was blinded in battle. |
blinded in one eye | a blinding flash of light 2 [(to)] to make
unable to notice or understand; take away the good sense or
judgment of: His determination blinded him to all the
difficulties. | blinded by emotion 3 blind with science to
confuse or fill with admiration by a show of detailed
specialist knowledge
blind³ n 1 also window shade AmE — a piece of cloth or other
material, which can usually be rolled or folded up for
covering a window → see also ROLLER BLIND, VENETIAN
BLIND 2 a way of hiding the truth by giving a false idea: His
newspaper job was only a blind for his real business, which
was receiving stolen goods. 3 especially AmE a hidden place
from which to watch animals, especially when hunting; HIDE
,blind 'alley n a little narrow street with no way out at the
other end: trapped in a blind alley | (fig.) We tried one idea after
another, but they all seemed to be blind alleys.
,blind 'date n infml a social meeting (DATE) between a boy and
a girl who have not met before
Blind Date a popular British television show in which one
person chooses a partner from three people whom they
cannot see, by asking them silly questions. They then go
away for a short holiday together, and go back on the show
the next week to talk about their experiences and say whether
they liked each other. There was a similar programme on
American television called The Dating Game.
,blind 'drunk adj [F] BrE slang extremely drunk
blind·er /'blaɪndər/ n play a blinder BrE infml to do something
extremely well, especially in a game or musical performance:
Marinello played a blinder in his first game for Arsenal,
scoring a brilliant goal against Manchester United.
blind·ers /'blaɪndzɔːl-ərz/ n [P] AmE for BLINKERS