blight

[ blahyt ]
/ blaɪt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR blight ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Plant Pathology.
  1. the rapid and extensive discoloration, wilting, and death of plant tissues.
  2. a disease so characterized.
any cause of impairment, destruction, ruin, or frustration: Extravagance was the blight of the family.
the state or result of being blighted or deteriorated; dilapidation; decay: urban blight.

verb (used with object)

to cause to wither or decay; blast: Frost blighted the crops.
to destroy; ruin; frustrate: Illness blighted his hopes.

verb (used without object)

to suffer blight.

Origin of blight

First recorded in 1605–15; of uncertain origin

OTHER WORDS FROM blight

blight·ing·ly, adverb un·blight·ed, adjective un·blight·ed·ly, adverb un·blight·ed·ness, noun

Words nearby blight

blew, blewit, blewits, blida, bligh, blight, blighter, blighty, bliksem, blimey, blimp

Words related to blight

mildew, decay, scourge, eyesore, canker, pest, affliction, fungus, infestation, mar, taint, curse, pestilence, dump, withering, evil, bane, sight, contamination, woe

Example sentences from the Web for blight

British Dictionary definitions for blight

blight
/ (blaɪt) /

noun

verb

Word Origin for blight

C17: perhaps related to Old English blǣce rash; compare bleach

Scientific definitions for blight

blight
[ blīt ]

Any of numerous plant diseases that cause leaves, stems, fruits, and tissues to wither and die. Rust, mildew, and smut are blights.
The bacterium, fungus, or virus that causes such a disease.