- the usually red fluid, consisting of plasma, red and white blood cells, etc., that circulates through the heart, arteries, and veins of vertebrates: blood is a tissue that carries oxygen, hormones, cell-building material, etc. to, and carbon dioxide and waste matter away from, the other tissues
- a comparable fluid, usually colorless or bluish, in many invertebrate animals
- the spilling of blood; murder
- lifeblood
- the sap or juice of a plant
- passion, temperament, or disposition
- parental heritage; family line; lineage
- relationship by descent in the same family line; kinship
- descent from nobility or royalty
- descent from purebred stock
- a dandy or fop
- people, esp. youthful people: new blood in an organization
- Slang
- a black person; esp., a black male
- a close male friend: used, often in direct address, esp. among black people
Origin of blood
Middle English blod, blode from Old English blod: see bleed- to let (a hunting dog) taste, smell, or see the blood of its prey
- to initiate (a hunter) by staining the hunter's face with blood of the prey
- to initiate (a person) in any new experience
blood Idioms
bad blood
anger; hatred
blood is thicker than water
family ties are stronger than others
have (someone's) blood on one's hands
to be responsible for someone's death or misfortune
in cold blood
- with cruelty; unfeelingly
- dispassionately; deliberately
make someone's blood boil
to make someone angry or resentful
make someone's blood run cold
to frighten or terrify someone
