/blæŋk/ Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
[blɹæŋk] New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
/blæŋk/ New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[bleɪŋk] ~ [blɛːŋk] ~ [blæŋk] Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
/bleɪŋk/ North-Central US
[blɛə̯ŋk] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.
Meanings
(archaic) White or pale; without colour.
To the blanc Moone / Her office they preſcrib'd, 1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 656–657:
Free from writing, printing, or marks; having an empty space to be filled in.
Referee Michael Oliver failed to detect a foul in a crowded box and the Canaries escaped down the tunnel with the scoreline still blank. 2011 December 27, Mike Henson, “Norwich 0 - 2 Tottenham”, in BBC Sport:
a blank check
a blank ballot
blank paper
a blank CD
(figuratively) Lacking characteristics which give variety; uniform.
Not a cloud in the blank blue sky.
a blank desert; a blank wall; blank unconsciousness
(figuratively) Without expression, usually because of incomprehension.
Failing to understand the question, he gave me a blank stare.
a blank glassy look
Utterly confounded or discomfited.
Adam […] Aſtonied ſtood and Blank, 1667, John Milton, “Book VIII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 888–890:
Empty; void; without result; fruitless; futile.
a blank day
Devoid of thoughts, memory, or inspiration.
The shock left his memory blank.
Of ammunition: having propellant but no bullets; unbulleted.
The recruits were issued blank rounds for a training exercise.
mk бе́збоен ((archaic) without color) · vi để trắng ((archaic) without color) · ru бе́лый ((archaic) without color) · ar اَلْخَالِي (free from writing, printing or marks) · fi paukku- (of ammunition) · ru пусто́й (free from writing, printing or marks) · fi valkoinen ((archaic) without color) · et tühi (free from writing, printing or marks) · gl en branco (free from writing, printing or marks) · ro necompletat (free from writing, printing or marks) · fr vierge (free from writing, printing or marks) · ro inexpresiv ((archaic) without color) · ro nescris (free from writing, printing or marks) · ru неиспи́санный (free from writing, printing or marks) · pl niewypełniony (free from writing, printing or marks) · fi tyhjä (free from writing, printing or marks) · fr balles à blanc (of ammunition) · da farveløs ((archaic) without color) · es en blanco (free from writing, printing or marks) · ru холосто́й (of ammunition) · ar خَالٍ (free from writing, printing or marks) · ka სუფთა (free from writing, printing or marks) · es en blanco ((archaic) without color) · de unbeschrieben (free from writing, printing or marks) · de ausdruckslos ((archaic) without color) · ru бесцве́тный ((archaic) without color) · bg непопълнен (free from writing, printing or marks) · ru чи́стый (free from writing, printing or marks) · no blank (free from writing, printing or marks) · it intatto (free from writing, printing or marks) · zdj -eu (free from writing, printing or marks) · sv blank (free from writing, printing or marks) · es de fogueo (of ammunition) · sv tom (free from writing, printing or marks) · cmn 空白 (free from writing, printing or marks) · pt em branco (free from writing, printing or marks) · de unausgefüllt (free from writing, printing or marks) · vi để trắng (free from writing, printing or marks) · ru бле́дный ((archaic) without color) · bg празен (free from writing, printing or marks) · bg безцветен ((archaic) without color) · vi trắng (free from writing, printing or marks) · it intonso ((archaic) without color) · ru незапо́лненный (free from writing, printing or marks) · bg неизписан (free from writing, printing or marks) · pt bala de festim (of ammunition) · ar فَارِغ (free from writing, printing or marks) · vi trống (free from writing, printing or marks) · da blank ((archaic) without color) · mk бел ((archaic) without color) · vi mã tử (of ammunition) · pl pusty (free from writing, printing or marks) · mk блед ((archaic) without color) · it cartuccia a salve (of ammunition) · pl niezadrukowany (free from writing, printing or marks) · pl bezbarwny ((archaic) without color) · it vergine (free from writing, printing or marks) · si හිස්තැන (free from writing, printing or marks) · pl niezapisany (free from writing, printing or marks) · pl czysty (free from writing, printing or marks) · it vuoto (free from writing, printing or marks) · vi trắng ((archaic) without color) · fr blanc (free from writing, printing or marks) · io vakua (free from writing, printing or marks) · vi để trống (free from writing, printing or marks) · it in bianco (free from writing, printing or marks) · fi väritön ((archaic) without color) · ro curat (free from writing, printing or marks) · gl virxe (free from writing, printing or marks) · ro neexpresiv ((archaic) without color) · bg бял ((archaic) without color) · pt virgem (free from writing, printing or marks) · da tom ((archaic) without color) · mk пра́зен (free from writing, printing or marks) · el αβολίδωτος (of ammunition) · da tom (free from writing, printing or marks) · da ubeskrevet (free from writing, printing or marks) · mk неи́спишан (free from writing, printing or marks)
blank en · NOUN
Pronunciation
/bleɪŋk/ (US)
[bleɪ̯ŋk] ~ [bleːŋk] North-Central US
/blɛŋk/ (New-Zealand)
/blæŋk/ (Southern-US)
/blæŋk/ (Inland-Northern-American)
[blæŋk] ~ [blæə̯ŋk] ~ [blɛə̯ŋk] (Southern-US)
/bleɪŋk/ Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
/blæŋk/ Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
[blɹæŋk] New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
/blæŋk/ New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[bleɪŋk] ~ [blɛːŋk] ~ [blæŋk] Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
/bleɪŋk/ North-Central US
[blɛə̯ŋk] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.
Meanings
(archaic, historical, obsolete) A small French coin, originally of silver, afterwards of copper, worth 5 deniers; also a silver coin of Henry V current in the parts of France then held by the English, worth about 8 pence.
Whosoeuer brought a fagot before the kynges tent, he shulde haue a blanke of Fraunce. 1523, Jean Froissart, transl. by John Bourchier, 2nd Baron Berners, Cronycles of Englande, Fraunce etc.:
(obsolete) A nonplus.
The white spot in the centre of a target; hence (figuratively) the object to which anything is directed or aimed, the range of such aim.
Kent. See better, Lear, and let me still remain / The true blank of thine eye. (Act I, scene 2) 1606, William Shakespeare, King Lear:
Des. […] And stood within the blank of his displeasure / For my free speech! (Act III, scene 11) 1603, William Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice:
A lot by which nothing is gained; a ticket in a lottery on which no prize is indicated.
[…] and in Fortune's Lottery lies / A heap of Blanks, like this, for one ſmall Prize. 1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, Thomas Creech, transl., “[The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis.] The Satyr”, in The Satires of Decimus Junius Juvenalis. Translated into English Verse. […] Together with the Satires of Aulus Persius Flaccus. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson […], →OCLC, page 257:
An empty space; a void, for example on a paper. ▸ A space to be filled in on a form or template.
Write your answers in the blanks.
An empty space; a void, for example on a paper. ▸ Provisional words printed in italics (instead of blank spaces) in a bill before Parliament, being matters of practical detail, of which the final form is to be settled in committee.
(US) A document, paper, or form with spaces left blank to be filled in at the pleasure of the person to whom it is given (e.g. a blank charter, ballot, form, contract, etc.), or as the event may determine; a blank form.
[…] and the freemen signified their approbation by an inscribed vote, and their dissent by a blank. 1859, John Gorham Palfrey, History of New England, volume 1:
(US) A document, paper, or form with spaces left blank to be filled in at the pleasure of the person to whom it is given (e.g. a blank charter, ballot, form, contract, etc.), or as the event may determine; a blank form. ▸ An empty form without substance; anything insignificant; nothing at all.
(US) A document, paper, or form with spaces left blank to be filled in at the pleasure of the person to whom it is given (e.g. a blank charter, ballot, form, contract, etc.), or as the event may determine; a blank form. ▸ An unprinted leaf of a book.
Blank verse.
A piece of material roughly cut, forged, cast, etc. to the size and shape of the thing to be made, and ready for the finishing operations; (coining) the disc of metal before stamping. ▸ Any article of glass on which subsequent processing is required.
(qualifier:electric recording) A piece of material roughly cut, forged, cast, etc. to the size and shape of the thing to be made, and ready for the finishing operations; (coining) the disc of metal before stamping. ▸ The shaved wax ready for placing on a recording machine for making wax records with a stylus.
(figuratively) A vacant space, place, or period; a void.
Du. And what's her hiſtory?
Vio. A blanke my Lord: c. 1601–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “Twelfe Night, or What You Will”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv], page 263, column 1:
The ¹ / ₂₃₀₄₀₀ of a grain.
An empty space in one's memory; a forgotten item or memory.
“I was ill. I can't tell how long — it was a blank. […]” 1863, George Eliot, Romola:
My head is so ill that I cannot write a paper full as I used to do; and yet I will not forgive a blank of half an inch from you. 1736, Jonathan Swift, Letters:
From this time there ensues a long blank in the history of French legislation. 1818, Henry Hallam, View of the State of Europe During the Middle Ages:
A dash written in place of an omitted letter or word.
The space character; the character resulting from pressing the space bar on a keyboard.
A domino without points on one or both of its divisions.
the six blank
the double blank
(qualifier:Words With Friends) A tile that can be played as any letter and having a point value of zero.
(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of blank cartridge.
(figuratively, in the expression ‘shooting blanks’) An ineffective effort which achieves nothing. ▸ A sample for a control experiment that does not contain any of the analyte of interest, in order to deliberately produce a non-detection to verify that a detection is distinguishable from it.
(figuratively, in the expression ‘shooting blanks’, slang) An ineffective effort which achieves nothing. ▸ Infertile semen.
Used as a substitute for a profanity.
The Beatles have fabulous music, a tough sound! Who gives a blank if they can read music! 1965 January, Lou Sullivan, Letter to Keen Teen (unpublished, preserved in personal diary):
mk ќо́р-фишек (simulation cartridge) · ko 칸 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · nb mellomrom (space character) · mk пра́знина (void space on a paper) · da løs patron (simulation cartridge) · fr espace (space character) · sv mellanslag (space character) · es bala de salva (simulation cartridge) · ota آرالق (void space on a paper) · fi välilyönti (space character) · pl puste miejsce (void space on a paper) · vi khoảng trống (void space on a paper) · ru холосто́й патро́н (simulation cartridge) · ota آرالق (space to be filled in on a form or template) · fi aihio (piece or division of a piece) · mk пра́зно ме́сто (space to be filled in on a form or template) · cmn 空包彈 /空包弹 (simulation cartridge) · pt branco (void space on a paper) · it spazio (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ja 空包 (simulation cartridge) · mk интерва́л (space character) · mk пла́шливец (simulation cartridge) · fi räkäpää (simulation cartridge) · ro (necompletat) loc gol (space to be filled in on a form or template) · cs mezera (space character) · fr préforme (workpiece) · bg интерва́л (space character) · vi chỗ để trống (void space on a paper) · ru пусто́е ме́сто (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ru пусто́е ме́сто (void space on a paper) · it bianco (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ko 빈칸 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · de Spatium (space character) · fr blanc (void space on a paper) · vi khoảng cách (space character) · fi tyhjä kohta (space to be filled in on a form or template) · fi tyhjämerkki (space character) · es espacio (space character) · pl spacja (space character) · ru пробе́л (space character) · sv ruta (space to be filled in on a form or template) · hu vaktöltény (simulation cartridge) · es espacio en blanco (space to be filled in on a form or template) · vi gạch để trống (space to be filled in on a form or template) · de Lücke (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ko 여백 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · fi paukkupatruuna (simulation cartridge) · de Platzpatrone (simulation cartridge) · ru холосто́й (simulation cartridge) · bg шпа́ция (space character) · ko 공란 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · de Wortzwischenraum (space character) · bg пра́зно мя́сто (void space on a paper) · bg празнина́ (void space on a paper) · de Leerstelle (space character) · es cartucho de fogueo (simulation cartridge) · da rubrik (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ru пустота́ (void space on a paper) · ru про́пуск (void space on a paper) · pt festim (simulation cartridge) · fr préforme (piece or division of a piece) · es casilla (space to be filled in on a form or template) · de Rohling (workpiece) · eo mensa malpleno (empty space in one's memory) · bg пра́зно мя́сто (space to be filled in on a form or template) · fr cartouche à blanc (simulation cartridge) · da tom plads (void space on a paper) · fi aihio (workpiece) · sv lös patron (simulation cartridge) · de Leerzeichen (space character) · vi dấu cách (space character) · nl losse flodder (simulation cartridge) · id isian (space to be filled in on a form or template) · id peluru kosong (simulation cartridge) · pl ślepak (simulation cartridge) · pl puste miejsce (space to be filled in on a form or template) · pt lacuna (space to be filled in on a form or template) · pt lacuna (void space on a paper) · it cartuccia a salve (simulation cartridge) · fr balle à blanc (simulation cartridge) · ja 空欄 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · vi mẫu in (workpiece) · sv tomrum (void space on a paper) · nn mellomrom (space character) · sv ämne (workpiece) · da råemne (workpiece) · pl ślepy nabój (simulation cartridge) · da mellemrum (space character) · bg загото́вка (workpiece) · da blanko- (piece or division of a piece) · ru загото́вка (workpiece) · ja 余白 (space to be filled in on a form or template) · vi chỗ để trống (space to be filled in on a form or template) · nl spatie (space character) · fi aukko (space to be filled in on a form or template) · eo spaceto (space character) · ru болва́нка (workpiece) · vi khoảng trống (space to be filled in on a form or template) · ru пробе́л (void space on a paper) · ro cartuș orb (de exercițiu) (simulation cartridge) · pt espaço (space character) · fi tyhjä tila (void space on a paper) · vi đạn mã tử (simulation cartridge)
blank en · VERB
Pronunciation
/bleɪŋk/ (US)
[bleɪ̯ŋk] ~ [bleːŋk] North-Central US
/blɛŋk/ (New-Zealand)
/blæŋk/ (Southern-US)
/blæŋk/ (Inland-Northern-American)
[blæŋk] ~ [blæə̯ŋk] ~ [blɛə̯ŋk] (Southern-US)
/bleɪŋk/ Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
/blæŋk/ Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
[blɹæŋk] New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
/blæŋk/ New York City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Baltimore
[bleɪŋk] ~ [blɛːŋk] ~ [blæŋk] Western US, Midland US, Western Pennsylvania, New England
/bleɪŋk/ North-Central US
[blɛə̯ŋk] (Inland-Northern-American)
Etymology
From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.
Meanings
(transitive) To make void; to erase.
I blanked out my previous entry.
(slang, transitive) To ignore (a person) deliberately.
She blanked me for no reason.
Taylor Swift goes viral for blanking Celine Dion on stage at Grammys 2024 […] Taylor Swift received backlash for being 'disrespectful' by 'ignoring' Celine Dion while accepting the award for Album of the Year at the Grammys on Sunday. 2024 February 4, Sonia Horon, “Taylor Swift goes viral for BLANKING Celine Dion on stage at Grammys 2024 after diva emerges from battle with stiff-person syndrome to present her with historic Album of the Year”, in dailymail.co.uk:
(of a control surface, transitive) To render ineffective by blanketing with turbulent airflow, such as from aircraft wake or reverse thrust.
At high angles of attack, the shuttle’s rudder is blanked by the fuselage and wings, forcing it to use its RCS thrusters for yaw control.
(transitive) To prevent from scoring; for example, in a sporting event.
The team was blanked.
England blanks Wales to advance to the final.
(intransitive) To become blank.
In OPS 6, the 2 EO color field does blank at SSME fine count. Once in fine count in route to an RTLS MECO, the energy state is such that one engine can carry the orbiter though powered pitch-down to a healthy MECO condition with standard RTLS guidance. 2007 February 14, NASA, “4.5.2 Two-Engine-Out Contingency Software Termination”, in Contingency Aborts 21007/31007, archived from the original on 08 Mar 2022, page 45:
(informal, intransitive) To experience a temporary lapse of memory; to be temporarily unable to remember a particular fact. (Commonly used in the first person, present progressive tense, and commonly followed by on to create a transitive phrasal verb.)
She asked him a simple question during the interview, and he blanked.
I’m blanking on her name right now.
Forms
Spelling
Features
Labels
Source
blanking
Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
blanked
Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part
lexicographic
blanked
Tense=Past
lexicographic
blanks
Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres
lexicographic
Deriveds
blank end (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank on (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankety-blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank out (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · draw a blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · lens blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blanagram (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · draw blanks (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · point blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank sheet (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · draw blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank-faced (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankless (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · Blankshire (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank-cartridge (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankish (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank canvas (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank signature (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · fill in the blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · nonblank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blanken (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankness (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank slate (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank check (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank verse (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · photoblank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank leaf (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blank page (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · Blanktown (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · in blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · unblank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · reblank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankly (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · blankable (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · proxy in blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · Blanksville (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · point-blank (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank) · Blankville (Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank)
es blanquear (to make void) · fi tyhjentää (to make void) · bg изличавам (to make void) · fr annuler (to make void) · bg изтривам (to make void) · fr blancoter (to make void) · sv blanka (to make void) · ru стира́ть (to make void) · fi kumittaa (to make void) · da strege (to make void) · bg бия на нула (to prevent from scoring) · ru стере́ть (to make void) · pt apagar (to make void) · es borrar (to make void) · fr effacer (to make void)