Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense blanks, present participle blanking, past tense, past participle blanked
1. adjective
Something that is blank has nothing on it.
We could put some of the pictures over on that blank wall over there.
He tore a blank page from his notebook.
... a blank screen.
Synonyms: unmarked, white, clear, clean More Synonyms of blank
2. countable noun
A blank is a space which is left in a piece of writing or on a printed form for you to fillin particular information.
Put a word in each blank to complete the sentence.
Synonyms: empty space, space, gap More Synonyms of blank
3. adjective
If you look blank, your face shows no feeling, understanding, or interest.
Abbot looked blank. 'I don't quite follow, sir.'.
His daughter gave him a blank look.
Synonyms: puzzled, lost, confused, stumped More Synonyms of blank
blanklyadverb [ADVERB with verb]
She stared at him blankly.
blanknessuncountable noun
His eyes have the blankness of someone half-asleep.
Synonyms: vacancy, indifference, abstraction, lack of interest More Synonyms of blank
4. singular noun
If your mind or memory is a blank, you cannot think of anything or remember anything.
I'm sorry, but my mind is a blank.
I came round in hospital and did not know where I was. Everything was a completeblank.
Synonyms: void, vacuum, vacancy, emptiness More Synonyms of blank
5. countable noun [usually plural]
Blanks are gun cartridges which contain explosive but do not contain a bullet, so that they cause no harm when the gun is fired.
...a starter pistol which only fires blanks.
Synonyms: dud More Synonyms of blank
6. See also point-blank
7.
See to draw a blank
8.
See go blank
Phrasal verbs:
See blank out
More Synonyms of blank
blank in British English
(blæŋk)
adjective
1.
(of a writing surface) bearing no marks; not written on
2.
(of a form, etc) with spaces left for details to be filled in
3.
without ornament or break; unrelieved
a blank wall
4.
not filled in; empty; void
a blank space
5.
exhibiting no interest or expression
a blank look
6.
lacking understanding; confused
he looked blank even after the explanations
7.
absolute; complete
blank rejection
8.
devoid of ideas or inspiration
his mind went blank in the exam
9.
unproductive; barren
noun
10.
an emptiness; void; blank space
11.
an empty space for writing in, as on a printed form
12.
a printed form containing such empty spaces
13.
something characterized by incomprehension or mental confusion
my mind went a complete blank
14.
a mark, often a dash, in place of a word, esp a taboo word
15. short for blank cartridge
16.
a plate or plug used to seal an aperture
17.
a piece of material prepared for stamping, punching, forging, etc
18. archery
the white spot in the centre of a target
19. draw a blank
verb(transitive)
20. (usually foll by out)
to cross out, blot, or obscure
21. slang
to ignore or be unresponsive towards (someone)
the crowd blanked her for the first four numbers
22.
to forge, stamp, punch, or cut (a piece of material) in preparation for forging, die-stamping, or drawing operations
23. (often foll by off)
to seal (an aperture) with a plate or plug
24. US and Canadian informal
to prevent (an opponent) from scoring in a game
Derived forms
blankly (ˈblankly)
adverb
blankness (ˈblankness)
noun
Word origin
C15: from Old French blanc white, of Germanic origin; related to Old English blanca a white horse
blank in American English
(blæŋk)
adjective
1. Obsolete
colorless or white
2.
a.
not written, recorded, etc. on; not marked; empty
a blank sheet of paper, a blank tape
b.
having empty spaces to be filled in
3.
having an empty, vacant, or monotonous look or character
4.
a.
without interest or expression
blank looks
b.
showing incomprehension or confusion
5.
empty of thought; lacking ideas
a blank mind
6.
unproductive; barren
blank years
7.
utter; complete
a blank denial
8.
lacking certain elements or characteristics, as a wall without an opening
9. Slang
blankety-blank
noun
10.
an empty space, esp. one to be filled in on a printed form, school test, etc.
11.
a printed form or document with such empty spaces
12.
an emptiness; vacant place or time; void
13.
a.
the center spot of a target
b.
anything aimed at or pointed at
14.
a manufactured article yet to be cut to a pattern or marked with a design
a key blank
15.
a lottery ticket that fails to win
16.
a powder-filled cartridge without a bullet
: in full blank cartridge
17.
a mark, usually a dash (—), indicating an omitted word, esp. an oath or curse
verb transitive
18. US
to hold (an opponent) scoreless in a game
19.
to stamp with a die from flat stock
Idioms:
blank out
draw a blank
Derived forms
blankly (ˈblankly)
adverb
blankness (ˈblankness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr blanc, white < Frank *blank, white, gleaming, akin to OE blanca, white steed < IE *bhleg-, to shine: see black
blank in Mechanical Engineering1
(blæŋk)
Word forms: (regular plural) blanks
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Fluid engineering)
A blank is a plate or a small round piece of a metal, plastic, or other material used to seal a hole.
All unused connectors should be sealed with blanks.
You can remove the sensors from your bumper, but you will have to put blanks in to cover the holes.
A blank is a plate or a small round piece of a metal, plastic, or other material used toseal a hole.
blank in Mechanical Engineering2
(blæŋk)
Word forms: (present) blanks, (past) blanked, (perfect) blanked, (progressive) blanking
verb
(Mechanical engineering: Manufacturing and assembly)
If a piece of metal is blanked, it is forged, stamped, punched, or cut out so that is ready for forging, die casting, or drawing.
When the sheet metal has been blanked, the resulting disks are then shaped by being bent in dies.
The disks are blanked from sheet stock and passed immediately into a die stack.
If a piece of metal is blanked, it is forged, stamped, punched, or cut out so that is ready for forging, die casting,or drawing.
More idioms containing
blank
a blank cheque
draw a blank
Examples of 'blank' in a sentence
blank
But this was a demonstration of the contrasting ways in which two strikers can draw a blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It adds character to a blank canvas and is cheap in the grand scheme of things.
The Sun (2016)
What strikes you about the faces is how blank they are.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And then a kind of bleakness about the present and then just a blank space about thefuture.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We'll leave you to fill in the blanks.
The Sun (2016)
As I sailed through the air my mind went blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We have all sat there, on rainy days, when empty pages and blank spaces beckon.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Only once or twice do I seem to catch him unprepared, and then he just looks blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You try and gift something to the nation and meet a blank wall of bureaucratic indifference.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Perhaps you fluffed your lines or found your mind going blank?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You have to soak up the air of antiquity and fill in the blanks yourself.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The white interiors offer a blank canvas.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
With a blank sheet the court would have taken that approach.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Leave as little blank space between entries as is possible.
Porush, David A Short Guide to Writing About Science (1995)
She was blighted by respiratory illness and memory blanks.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
It is the best time to ride a winner but much the worst to draw a blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
His mind became a complete tactical blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Which in my mind all added up to a blank cheque.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
She looked blank and changed the subject.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The blank page can then be reused.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Where it had stood was only blank wall!
Tepper, Sheri S. A Plague of Angels (1993)
My mind is blank at the moment.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Everything is just blank - plain emptiness.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Fill the blanks in these Sun headlines.
The Sun (2015)
I was met by four blank blue eyes and much shrugging.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Blank followed to talk tactics.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
At first he looks blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I sent back the return attached to the four blank pages, plus a letter of complaint.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The Eagles have failed to score in their last five league games and their blanks in front of goal have seen them tumble down the table.
The Sun (2016)
It's a lifelong piece of blank computer software that's waiting to be programmed by them.
The Sun (2009)
Kennedy: I dialled and hit a mental blank.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In other languages
blank
British English: blank /blæŋk/ ADJECTIVE
Something that is blank has nothing on it.
...a blank page.
American English: blank
Arabic: فَارِغ
Brazilian Portuguese: em branco
Chinese: 空白的
Croatian: prazan
Czech: prázdný
Danish: blank
Dutch: blanco
European Spanish: en blanco
Finnish: tyhjä paperi ym.
French: vide
German: leer Blatt
Greek: κενός
Italian: vuoto
Japanese: 白紙の
Korean: 빈
Norwegian: blank
Polish: pusty
European Portuguese: em branco
Romanian: gol
Russian: пустой
Latin American Spanish: en blanco
Swedish: tom
Thai: ว่าง
Turkish: boş kağıt, zihin
Ukrainian: чистий
Vietnamese: trống
British English: blank /blæŋk/ NOUN
A blank is a space which is left in a piece of writing or on a printed form for you to fill in particular information.
Put a word in each blank to complete the sentence.
American English: blank
Arabic: فِرَاغ
Brazilian Portuguese: espaço vazio
Chinese: 空白
Croatian: praznina
Czech: mezera
Danish: mellemrum
Dutch: leegte
European Spanish: espacio en blanco
Finnish: tyhjä kohta
French: vide
German: Leerstelle
Greek: κενό
Italian: spazio vuoto
Japanese: 空欄
Korean: 공백
Norwegian: tomrom
Polish: puste miejsce
European Portuguese: espaço vazio
Romanian: spațiu liber
Russian: бланк
Latin American Spanish: espacio en blanco
Swedish: tom yta
Thai: ช่องว่าง
Turkish: boşluk yazı, zihin
Ukrainian: пропуск
Vietnamese: chỗ trống
All related terms of 'blank'
blank out
If you blank out a particular feeling or thought, you do not allow yourself to experience that feeling or to have that thought.
go blank
If your mind goes blank , you are suddenly unable to think of anything appropriate to say , for example in reply to a question .
blank check
a check form that has not been filled in
blank verse
Blank verse is poetry that does not rhyme . In English literature it usually consists of lines with five stressed syllables .
blank wall
an impassable barricade or obstacle ; a situation in which further progress is impossible
point-blank
If you say something point-blank , you say it very directly or rudely, without explaining or apologizing.
blank cheque
If someone is given a blank cheque , they are given the authority to spend as much money as they need or want .
blank screen
A screen is a flat vertical surface on which pictures or words are shown . Television sets and computers have screens, and films are shown on a screen in cinemas .
blank cartridge
a cartridge containing powder but no bullet : used in battle practice or as a signal
blankety-blank
damned
draw a blank
to not be able to find someone or something or find out about something
a blank cheque
complete authority to do whatever you think is best
blank endorsement
an endorsement on a bill of exchange, cheque , etc, naming no payee and thus making the endorsed sum payable to the bearer
to draw a blank
If you draw a blank when you are looking for someone or something, you do not succeed in finding them.
endorsement in blank
an endorsement on a bill of exchange, cheque, etc, naming no payee and thus making the endorsed sum payable to the bearer
Chinese translation of 'blank'
blank
(blæŋk)
adj
[paper, cassette]空白的 (kòngbái de)
[expression]茫然的 (mángrán de)
n(c)
(on form) 空白处(處) (kòngbáichù) (个(個), gè)
(= cartridge) 空弹(彈) (kōngdàn) (发, fā)
my mind went blank or was a blank我的大脑(腦)一片空白 (wǒde dànǎo yī piàn kòngbái)
we drew a blank (inf) 我们(們)白费(費)心机(機)了 (wǒmen báifèi xīnjī le)
1 (adjective)
Definition
empty or void
He tore a blank page from his notebook.
Synonyms
unmarked
white
clear
clean
empty
The room was bare and empty.
plain
bare
a bare, draughty interviewing room
void
spotless
Every morning cleaners make sure everything is spotless.
unfilled
uncompleted
Opposites
full
,
marked
,
completed
,
busy
,
filled in
2 (adjective)
Definition
showing no interest or expression
He gave him a blank look.
Synonyms
expressionless
He did his best to keep his face expressionless.
empty
She saw the empty look in his eyes as he left.
dull
vague
hollow
the hollow sound of a gunshot
vacant
a dreamy, vacant look
lifeless
His novels are shallow and lifeless.
deadpan
his deadpan expression
straight-faced
vacuous
the usual vacuous comments from the chat-show host
impassive
inscrutable
It is important to keep a straight face and remain inscrutable.
inane
wooden
It's hard to tell from his wooden expression whether he's happy or sad.
poker-faced (informal)
Opposites
interested
,
alert
,
intelligent
,
lively
,
thoughtful
,
expressive
3 (adjective)
Definition
lacking ideas or inspiration
Abbot looked blank. `I don't follow, sir.'
Synonyms
puzzled
Scientists remain puzzled by this phenomenon.
lost
I feel lost and lonely in a strange town.
confused
People are confused about what they should eat to stay healthy.
stumped
I must confess I was stumped for a moment.
doubtful
baffled
stuck (informal)
They will be there to help if you're stuck.
at sea
I'm totally at sea with popular culture.
bewildered
Some shoppers look bewildered by the variety of goods on offer.
muddled
I'm afraid I'm a little muddled. I don't know where to begin.
mixed up
confounded
perplexed
She is perplexed about what to do for her daughter.
disconcerted
He was disconcerted to find his fellow diners already seated.
at a loss
I was at a loss for what to do next.
mystified
clueless
dumbfounded
I stood there dumbfounded.
nonplussed
Patricia was totally nonplussed by Coyne's behaviour.
uncomprehending
flummoxed
The leaders were flummoxed by the suggestion.
4 (adjective)
a blank refusal to attend
Synonyms
absolute
A sick person needs to have absolute trust in a doctor.
complete
He made me look like a complete idiot.
total
The car was in a total mess.
I mean I'm not a total idiot.
utter
A look of utter confusion swept across his handsome face.
outright
He told me an outright lie.
thorough
I was a thorough little academic snob.
downright
downright bad manners
consummate
He was a consummate liar and exaggerator.
unqualified
The event was an unqualified success.
out and out
unmitigated
A senior police officer had called him an unmitigated liar.
unmixed
1 (noun)
Definition
an empty space for writing in
Put a word in each blank to complete the sentence.
Synonyms
empty space
space
Affix your stamps on the space provided.
gap
the wind tearing through gaps in the window frames
2 (noun)
Definition
the condition of not understanding
Everything was a complete blank.
Synonyms
void
the limitless void of outer space
vacuum
The spinning turbine creates a vacuum.
vacancy
emptiness
She wanted an artistic hobby to fill the emptiness of her days.