blank

[ blangk ]

/ blæŋk /

adjective, blank·er, blank·est.

(of paper or other writing surface) having no marks; not written or printed on: a blank sheet of paper.

not filled in, as a printed form: a blank check.

unrelieved or unbroken by ornament, opening, decoration, etc.: a blank wall.

lacking some usual or completing feature: a blank roll of film.

(of a recording medium) containing no previously recorded information: a blank videocassette; a blank floppy disk. Compare prerecorded.

void of interest, variety, results, etc.: She sometimes occupied her blank days reading detective stories.

showing no attention, interest, or emotion: a blank expression on his face.

disconcerted; nonplussed; speechless: He looked blank when I asked him why he applied for the job.

complete; utter; unmitigated: blank stupidity.

Archaic. white; pale; colorless.

noun

a place where something is lacking; an empty space: a blank in one's memory.

a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in: Write your name in the blank.

a printed form containing such spaces: Have you filled out one of these blanks?

a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., especially to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.

Metalworking. a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.

Archery. the bull's-eye.

the object toward which anything is directed; aim; target.

blank cartridge.

verb (used with object)

to cross out or delete, especially in order to invalidate or void (usually followed by out): to blank out an entry.

Informal. to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.

Metalworking. to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.

Idioms for blank

draw a blank,

to fail in an attempt; be unsuccessful: We've drawn a blank in the investigation.
to fail to comprehend or be unable to recollect: He asked me their phone number and I drew a blank.

Origin of blank

1300–50; Middle English (noun and adj.) < Anglo-French, French blanc (adj.) < Germanic; compare Old English blanca white horse, Old High German blanch bright, white

SYNONYMS FOR blank

1–4 See empty.

8 dumfounded, confused, astounded.

9 pure, simple, unadulterated; perfect, absolute, unqualified.

11 void, vacancy, emptiness; gap, lacuna, hiatus.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR blank ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM blank

blank·ness, noun

Words nearby blank

bland out, bland-allison act, blandish, blandishment, blandishments, blank, blank cartridge, blank check, blank cheque, blank endorsement, blank shell

British Dictionary definitions for draw a blank

blank

/ (blæŋk) /

adjective

(of a writing surface) bearing no marks; not written on

(of a form, etc) with spaces left for details to be filled in

without ornament or break; unrelieved a blank wall

not filled in; empty; void a blank space

exhibiting no interest or expression a blank look

lacking understanding; confused he looked blank even after the explanations

absolute; complete blank rejection

devoid of ideas or inspiration his mind went blank in the exam

unproductive; barren

noun

an emptiness; void; blank space

an empty space for writing in, as on a printed form

a printed form containing such empty spaces

something characterized by incomprehension or mental confusion my mind went a complete blank

a mark, often a dash, in place of a word, esp a taboo word

short for blank cartridge

a plate or plug used to seal an aperture

a piece of material prepared for stamping, punching, forging, etc

archery the white spot in the centre of a target

draw a blank

to choose a lottery ticket that fails to win
to get no results from something

verb (tr)

(usually foll by out) to cross out, blot, or obscure

slang to ignore or be unresponsive towards (someone) the crowd blanked her for the first four numbers

to forge, stamp, punch, or cut (a piece of material) in preparation for forging, die-stamping, or drawing operations

(often foll by off) to seal (an aperture) with a plate or plug

US and Canadian informal to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game

Derived forms of blank

blankly, adverb blankness, noun

Word Origin for blank

C15: from Old French blanc white, of Germanic origin; related to Old English blanca a white horse

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (1 of 2)

draw a blank

Fail to find or remember something, as in He looks familiar but I've drawn a blank on his name. This expression alludes to drawing a lottery ticket with nothing on it (so one cannot win a prize). [Early 1800s]

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (2 of 2)

blank

In addition to the idiom beginning with blank

blank check

also see:

draw a blank
fill in (the blanks)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blank

adjective, blank·er, blank·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for blank

Origin of blank

SYNONYMS FOR blank

OTHER WORDS FROM blank

Words nearby blank

British Dictionary definitions for draw a blank

adjective

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of blank

Word Origin for blank

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

blank

adjective, blank·er, blank·est.

noun

verb (used with object)

Idioms for blank

Origin of blank

SYNONYMS FOR blank

OTHER WORDS FROM blank

Words nearby blank

Words related to draw a blank

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for draw a blank

adjective

noun

verb (tr)

Derived forms of blank

Word Origin for blank

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with draw a blank (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for draw a blank