Dictionary
blank
Pronunciation: (blangk), [key]
—adj., -er, -est,
—n., v.
—
adj.
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. Cf.
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.
—
n.
1. a place where something is lacking; an empty space:
a blank in one's memory.
2. a space in a printed form, test, etc., to be filled in:
Write your name in the blank.
3. a printed form containing such spaces:
Have you filled out one of these blanks?
4. a dash put in place of an omitted letter, series of letters, etc., esp. to avoid writing a word considered profane or obscene.
5. Metalworking.a piece of metal ready to be drawn, pressed, or machined into a finished object.
6. Archery.the bull's-eye.
7. the object toward which anything is directed; aim; target.
8. See
blank cartridge.
9. 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.
—
v.t.
1. to cross out or delete, esp. in order to invalidate or void (usually fol. by
out):
to blank out an entry.
2. Informal.to keep (an opponent) from scoring in a game.
3. Metalworking.to stamp or punch out of flat stock, as with a die.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
