blend

1.nounC2

Definition

something made by bringing different materials, styles, or qualities together into one whole.

Example

The album is a blend of jazz, folk, and quiet electronic sounds.

blend of + music styles

Her living room shows a blend of old wood and bright metal.

Common collocations

a blend of flavors
a blend of styles
coffee blend
spice blend

Synonyms

mixture
the broadest choice; 'blend' often suggests a pleasing or careful combination
combination
more general and less focused on how smoothly the parts go together
fusion
often used for styles or cultures coming together in a striking way

Antonyms

separation
stresses the parts being kept apart instead of joined

Grammar Patterns

a blend of + noun

Usage Note

Usually followed by of when naming the parts that make up the whole.

Common Mistakes

This paint is a good blend with blue and green.

This paint is a good blend of blue and green.

the noun usually takes 'of' before the things being combined.

2.noun

Definition

a new word created from parts of two existing words and carrying meaning from both.

Example

On the worksheet, Emma circled brunch as a blend word.

linguistics: blend formed from two words

In class, Ms. Ito explained why motel is a blend.

Common collocations

word blend
common blend
blend of two words

Synonyms

portmanteau
a more technical term for this kind of word

Grammar Patterns

a blend of + word

blend made from + word

Usage Note

Common in language study. Distinguish from a compound word: a blend usually shortens or overlaps the original words instead of keeping them complete.

Common Mistakes

Laptop is a blend of lap and top.

Brunch is a blend of breakfast and lunch.

a blend usually shortens or overlaps the source words.

1.verbtransitive / intransitive

Definition

to join separate substances so they turn into a single mixture.

Example

Blend the milk and bananas for a quick breakfast drink.

blend A and B

Oil does not blend with cold water in the bowl.

blend with + noun

Common collocations

blend ingredients
blend colors
blend with water
blend into flour

Synonyms

mix
the most general choice; 'blend' often suggests a smoother result
combine
slightly more formal and not always about substances
stir
used when mixing by moving a spoon or similar tool around

Antonyms

separate
keep the parts apart instead of mixing them

Grammar Patterns

blend A with B

blend A into B

A blends with B

Usage Note

Often used for ingredients, liquids, colors, and powders. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about physical mixing, not about things matching well in style or effect.

Common Mistakes

I blended the tea with a spoon.

I stirred the tea with a spoon.

'blend' usually suggests the parts joining thoroughly, not just moving the liquid around briefly.

2.verbtransitive / intransitive

Definition

to go together in a pleasing or effective way, or to join things so they work well as one.

Example

The blue curtains blend nicely with the pale gray walls.

blend with + noun for matching appearance

Traditional drums blend with pop vocals on the new track.

Common collocations

blend well with
blend nicely with
blend flavors
blend styles

Synonyms

match
common for colors or clothes that look right together
harmonize
more formal and stresses a smooth, balanced effect
complement
means one thing improves another rather than simply joining it

Antonyms

clash
describes things that look or sound bad together

Grammar Patterns

blend with + noun

blend A and B

blend well

Usage Note

Often used for colors, music, flavors, styles, and design features. Distinguish from sense 1: the parts may remain separate, but the overall result feels matched or harmonious.

Common Mistakes

These shoes blend to my coat.

These shoes blend with my coat.

this sense usually takes 'with' when two things match well.

3.verbtransitive

Definition

to crush food in an electric machine until it becomes smooth or very small.

Example

Blend the tomatoes until the sauce looks smooth.

blend something until smooth

Noa blended oats and nuts into a thick breakfast paste.

Common collocations

blend soup
blend fruit
blend until smooth
blend in a food processor

Synonyms

puree
stresses making food smooth and soft
liquidize
more common in British English when food becomes liquid
process
broader; often used when a food processor is doing the work

Antonyms

chop
cut into pieces without turning the food smooth

Grammar Patterns

blend + food

blend something until smooth

blend something in a food processor

Usage Note

Used for food prepared with a blender or food processor, often with until smooth. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 3 highlights the machine, not simply the mixing itself.

Common Mistakes

Blend the carrots with a knife.

Chop the carrots with a knife.

this sense needs an electric machine, not a hand tool.

Phrasal verbs

blend in

phrasal verb

To look or act like the people around you so that you are not noticed.

Sara wore a gray coat to blend in with the crowd.

Can you help me choose clothes that will blend in at the party?

blend into

phrasal verb

To become part of something or look similar to its surroundings.

The lizard's skin helps it blend into the tree bark.

Diego's new curtains blend into the wall color perfectly.

Idioms

blend/fade into the woodwork

idiom

To act quietly so that no one notices you.

After the scandal, the politician tried to blend into the woodwork.

Maya just wanted to fade into the woodwork during the meeting.

Word family

blender
nounA2
blended
adjectiveB2
blending
nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

For sense 1, blend is close to mix, but blend often suggests a smoother, more even result. If you blend flour into butter or colors together, the parts become less separate. Combine is broader and slightly more formal; you can combine ideas, teams, or methods, not only substances. Stir is narrower: it describes the hand movement used to mix liquid or soft food, often with a spoon. Merge is stronger and usually used when separate things become one larger whole, such as companies or files. A cook might stir tea, mix a salad, and blend fruit for soup. Two small firms may merge, but they do not usually blend.

mix ↗combine ↗stir ↗merge ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

blend together
blend well with

Prepositions

with

Etymology

Old NorseEnglish

Blend came into English from Old Norse blanda, which meant to mix. The earliest uses were about mixing liquids or other materials, and later the word widened to styles, flavors, and other things that can come together smoothly. English also developed the noun blend for the result of mixing, and later for a word formed from parts of two other words.

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blend

blend — noun

1. something made by bringing different materials, styles, or qualities together in

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. a new word created from parts of two existing words and carrying meaning from bo

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

blend — verb

1. to join separate substances so they turn into a single mixture.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to go together in a pleasing or effective way, or to join things so they work we

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to crush food in an electric machine until it becomes smooth or very small.

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

blend in

blend into

blend/fade into the woodwork

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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