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blank out

 - 2 dictionary results

blank

[blangk] adjective, -er, -est, noun, verb
–adjective
1. (of paper or other writing surface) having no marks; not written or printed on: a blank sheet of paper.
2. not filled in, as a printed form: a blank check.
3. unrelieved or unbroken by ornament, opening, decoration, etc.: a blank wall.
4. lacking some usual or completing feature: a blank roll of film.
5. (of a recording medium) containing no previously recorded information: a blank videocassette; a blank floppy disk. Compare prerecorded.
6. void of interest, variety, results, etc.: She sometimes occupied her blank days reading detective stories.
7. showing no attention, interest, or emotion: a blank expression on his face.
8. disconcerted; nonplussed; speechless: He looked blank when I asked him why he applied for the job.
9. complete; utter; unmitigated: blank stupidity.
10. Archaic. white; pale; colorless.
–noun
11. a place where something is lacking; an empty space: a blank in one's memory.
12. a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in: Write your name in the blank.
13. a printed form containing such spaces: Have you filled out one of these blanks?
14. a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., esp. to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.
15. Metalworking. a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.
16. Archery. the bull's-eye.
17. the object toward which anything is directed; aim; target.
18. blank cartridge.
–verb (used with object)
19. to cross out or delete, esp. in order to invalidate or void (usually fol. by out): to blank out an entry.
20. Informal. to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.
21. Metalworking. to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.
22. draw a blank,
a. to fail in an attempt; be unsuccessful: We've drawn a blank in the investigation.
b. to fail to comprehend or be unable to recollect: He asked me their phone number and I drew a blank.

Origin:
1300–50; ME (n. and adj.) < AF, F blanc (adj.) < Gmc; cf. OE blanca white horse, OHG blanch bright, white


blankness, noun


1–4. See empty. 8. dumfounded, confused, astounded. 9. pure, simple, unadulterated; perfect, absolute, unqualified. 11. void, vacancy, emptiness; gap, lacuna, hiatus.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Word Origin & History

blank 
1230, from O.Fr. blanc "white, shining," from Frank. *blank "white, gleaming," of W.Gmc. origin (cf. O.E. blanca "white horse"), from P.Gmc. *blangkaz, from PIE *bhleg- "to shine" (see bleach). Originally "colorless," meaning "having empty spaces" evolved c.1400. Sense of "void of expression" (a blank look) is from 1553. The noun in the sense of "empty space" (in a document, etc.) is from c.1570.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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