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n. 1. A spot or a stain caused by a discoloring substance: a blot of paint. 2. An association of disgrace with one's character or reputation. See Synonyms at stain. 3. a. A laboratory technique, such as a Southern blot analysis, that involves electrophoretically separating proteins or nucleic acids and transferring them to a membrane. b. The membrane onto which these proteins or nucleic acids have been transferred. v. blot·ted, blot·ting, blots v.tr. 1. To soak up or dry with absorbent material. Often used with up: blotted the spill with a napkin; used a rag to blot up the paint. 2. a. To make obscure or invisible; hide. Often used with out: clouds blotting out the moon. b. To render invisible or unreadable by marking; obliterate. Often used with out: blotted out the names with a pen. c. To remove or block from personal memory or public remembrance. Often used with out: "His death in the hour of victory blotted out his failings and left a heroic memory" (N.A.M. Rodger). 3. To spot or stain, as with a discoloring substance: Grass stains blotted the knees of his pants. 4. To bring moral disgrace to: an incident that blotted the senator's reputation. v.intr. 1. To spill or spread in a spot or stain. 2. To become blotted, soaked up, or absorbed. [Middle English.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
n. 1. Games An exposed piece in backgammon. 2. Archaic A weak point. [Possibly from Low German blat, naked, unprotected.] |
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
