blood

noun, often attributive \ ˈbləd \

|Updated on: 5 Aug 2018

Definition of blood

1 a (1) : the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body

(2) : a comparable fluid of an invertebrate

b : a fluid resembling blood

2 : the shedding of blood; also : the taking of life

3 a : lifeblood; broadly : life

b : human stock or lineage; especially : royal lineage

a prince of the blood

c : relationship by descent from a common ancestor : kinship

d : persons related through common descent : kindred

e (1) : honorable or high birth or descent

(2) : descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree

4 a : blood regarded as the seat of the emotions : temper

b obsolete : lust

c : a showy foppish man : rake

5 : members of a team, staff, or organization : personnel

a company in need of new blood

6 informal : an African American male —used especially among black people

— in one's blood

: ingrained in one's nature : occurring as an innate or seemingly hereditary principle, inclination, or talent

with two parents who are painters, art is in her blood

See blood defined for English-language learners

See blood defined for kids

Examples of blood in a Sentence

The accident victim has already lost a lot of blood.
the blood in your veins

Recent Examples of blood from the Web

Translation: Ticks are tiny creatures sans backbones that latch onto your body and slurp up your blood like gross, miniscule, multi-legged vampires.

— kate sheridan, SELF, "Here’s Exactly What to Do if a Tick Bites You," 14 July 2018
The systolic blood pressure — the top number — measures how much pressure your blood exerts against the artery walls when the heart beats.

— david haugh, chicagotribune.com, "Operating on Danny Farquhar's brain didn't change what was in White Sox pitcher's heart," 12 July 2018
Lee, who co-created some of the world’s most popular comic characters, including Spider-Man, Iron Man and Black Panther, is still suing Olivarez for allegedly stealing millions of dollars and trying to sell his blood as a collectible.

— anita bennett, Fortune, "Stan Lee Drops $1 Billion Fraud Lawsuit Against POW! Entertainment," 9 July 2018
But clearly some riders are still dosing themselves with their own blood.

— marc peruzzi, Outside Online, "Stop Boycotting Pro Cycling," 6 July 2018
Giovanni Bedin is an Italian designer hailing from a family of men’s made-to-measure tailors; fashion of couture standards is in his blood.

— tiziana cardini, Vogue, "If You Want a Made-to-Measure Minidress, Giovanni Bedin Is Your Man," 5 July 2018
Deputies found 37-year-old Jason Maas lying face down in his own blood on Sunday morning in front of a credit union in northwest Houston, according to a news release from the Harris County Sheriff's Office.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "He got 'pranked' by his girlfriend's husband — so he stabbed him to death, Texas cops say," 3 July 2018
The officer directed hospital staff to draw his blood without a warrant.

— todd richmond, The Seattle Times, "Wisconsin court OKs unconscious drunken drivers’ blood draws," 3 July 2018
For years, New York City has claimed that only 19 children living in New York City Public Housing (NYCHA) in the last decade have registered for high lead levels in their blood.

— anne branigin, The Root, "New York City Finally Admits that More than 800 Kids Living in Public Housing Tested High for Lead," 2 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'blood.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of blood

Middle English, from Old English blōd; akin to Old High German bluot blood

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

See Words from the same year

blood Synonyms

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

blood

verb

Definition of blood

blooded; blooding; bloods

transitive verb

1 : to stain or wet with blood

2 archaic : bleed 1

3 : to expose (a hunting dog) to sight, scent, or taste of the blood of its prey

4 : to give experience to

troops blooded in battle

Recent Examples of blood from the Web

Liverpool Football Club is synonymous with blooding young talent into the first team with devastating effect.

— SI.com, "Trent Alexander-Arnold Proves Why Liverpool Must Give Youth a Chance," 12 May 2018
Caucasian means weak blooded, weak bone, stale face.

— Fox News, "Rudy Giuliani: Mueller probe should never have taken place," 31 May 2018
At the other end of play, Winslow came up blooded by the eye in a collison that left a few players on the floor.

— dave hyde, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Hyde5: Five thoughts on Game 4, Heat season on the edge," 21 Apr. 2018
Iniesta was handed his first-team debut for Barça in 2002 by manager Louis van Gaal, the same coach who had blooded Xavi during an earlier spell in charge.

— SI.com, "'Cancer of Barça': Camp Nou Legend Xavi Recalls Harsh Criticism He Suffered Early in His Career," 20 Mar. 2018
The question is, if Chelsea had any intention of blooding them next season, why spend around £110m on Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata to occupy their positions?

— SI.com, "Harry Kane Is a Rare Beneficiary of the Botched Modern Day Loan System," 15 Apr. 2017
With Mauricio Pochettino's record with blooding young players particularly impressive - his interest in the German comes as no surprise.

— SI.com, "Report: Arsenal, Tottenham Join Barcelona in the Hunt for Leon Goretzka," 5 Nov. 2017

First Known Use of blood

1590

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

BLOOD Defined for English Language Learners

blood

noun

Definition of blood for English Language Learners

: the red liquid that flows through the bodies of people and animals
: members of a team, company, or organization

BLOOD Defined for Kids

blood

noun \ ˈbləd \

Definition of blood for Students

1 : the red fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of persons and animals and that brings nourishment and oxygen to and carries away waste products from all parts of the body

2 : relationship through a common ancestor : kinship

She is my aunt by marriage, not by blood.

—

blooded

\ˈbləd-əd\ adjective

Medical Dictionary

blood

noun, often attributive \ ˈbləd \

medical Definition of blood

1 : the fluid that circulates in the heart, arteries, capillaries, and veins of a vertebrate animal carrying nourishment and oxygen to and bringing away waste products from all parts of the body

2 : a fluid of an invertebrate comparable to blood

3 : blood regarded in medieval physiology as one of the four humors and believed to be the seat of the emotions

4 : descent from parents of recognized breed or pedigree