Link Centre Dictionary

blank

UK/ˈblæŋk/ US/ˈblæŋk/ common informal slang us
adjective (3) noun (5) verb (1)

adjective

1.

of a surface; not written or printed on

  • “blank pages”
  • “fill in the blank spaces”
  • “a clean page”
  • “wide white margins”
Synonyms
Similar
2.

void of expression

  • “a blank stare”
Similar
3.

not charged with a bullet

  • “a blank cartridge”
Similar

noun

1.

a blank character used to separate successive words in writing or printing

  • “he said the space is the most important character in the alphabet”
Synonyms
2.

a substitute for a taboo word

  • “I hit the blank blank car”
3.

a blank gap or missing part

Synonyms
4.

a piece of material ready to be made into something

5.

a cartridge containing an explosive charge but no bullet

Synonyms

verb

1.

Origin

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.

Phrases

  • blank canvas Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank check Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank end Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank leaf Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank on Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank out Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank page Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank
  • blank sheet Terms derived from the adjective, noun, or verb blank

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.