blot
blot — noun
1. a dark or dirty mark left on paper, cloth, or another surface, especially by ink
a dark or dirty mark left on paper, cloth, or another surface, especially by ink or another liquid.
A round ink blot spread across Hana's homework page.
ink blot on paper
Grease left a dark blot on the cafe menu.
One coffee blot covered the train ticket in Omar's pocket.
Near the corner, a red paint blot spoiled the white wall.
paint/coffee/ink blot
- ink blot
- coffee blot
- paint blot
- a blot on the page
Grammar Patterns
a blot on + surface
Usage Note
Usually refers to a visible patch made by ink, paint, grease, coffee, or a similar substance. Often followed by 'on' plus the surface where the mark appears.
Common Mistakes
2. something shameful that makes a person, group, or record seem worse in other peo
something shameful that makes a person, group, or record seem worse in other people's eyes.
The bribery case left a lasting blot on the mayor's name.
a blot on + someone's name
For many fans, the cheating scandal remains a blot on the sport.
That cruel joke became a blot on Leo's school record.
a blot on + record
Years later, the false report is still a blot on the hospital.
- a blot on your name
- a blot on the record
- a blot on the sport
- a lasting blot
- stain
the closest figurative match for damage to someone's good name
- smear
often used for public attacks on a person's reputation
- disgrace
stronger; focuses on the shame itself rather than the mark left by it
- black mark
informal; often used for a bad point on a record
Grammar Patterns
a blot on + name/record/reputation
Usage Note
Almost always appears in the pattern 'a blot on' followed by a name, record, reputation, or institution. Distinguish from sense 1, which is about a physical mark on a surface.
Common Mistakes
blot — verb
1. to press paper, cloth, or another soft thing onto something wet so the liquid is
to press paper, cloth, or another soft thing onto something wet so the liquid is taken up.
Priya blotted the wet signature with a sheet of kitchen paper.
blot + wet writing + with paper
After washing the table, Yusuf blotted the wood with a towel.
The makeup artist blotted Mei's lips before adding a second coat.
blot your lips
At the clinic, the nurse blotted the blood with clean cotton.
- blot a signature
- blot your lips
- blot with a tissue
- blot the spill
Grammar Patterns
blot + noun
blot + noun + with + paper/cloth/tissue
Usage Note
Object is usually ink, blood, tears, lipstick, or another wet area. The tool used is often added with 'with', especially tissue, paper, cloth, or cotton.
Common Mistakes
2. to leave a dark or dirty mark on something, making it look less clean or less at
to leave a dark or dirty mark on something, making it look less clean or less attractive.
A drop of jam blotted the front of Diego's white shirt.
blot + clothing/surface
Rain from the open window blotted the poster on the wall.
The child's muddy hand blotted the clean page in one swipe.
blot + page with dirt
Black smoke blotted the ceiling above the old stove.
- blot a shirt
- blot the page
- blot the wall
- blot with mud
Grammar Patterns
blot + noun
blot + noun + with + dirt/ink/smoke
Usage Note
The subject is often the substance that causes the mark, such as ink, mud, smoke, rain, or food. Distinguish from sense 1, where the action removes liquid instead of leaving a mark.
Common Mistakes
blot out
phrasal verbto cover, hide, or remove something so fully that it cannot be seen
Dark clouds blotted out the moon above the fishing boats.
The editor blotted out the address before posting the photo online.
blot your copybook
idiomto act in a way that makes other people think less well of you
By lying about the test score, Ravi blotted his copybook at home.
The junior lawyer blotted her copybook by missing the judge's deadline.
Word family
- blotternounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For noun sense 1, blot is a useful choice when you want a visible mark that looks accidental and rather ugly, especially on paper or another clean surface. Spot is the broad everyday word and can describe almost any small mark, so it is less expressive. Smudge suggests a mark that has been rubbed or smeared, often with unclear edges. Stain often points to something that sinks in and may stay there, such as wine on cloth. Blotch usually names a larger, more uneven patch. You might say, 'A coffee blot spread across the page,' but 'A coffee stain stayed on the shirt all week.'
Etymology
The word was already in English in the Middle English period. Its earliest use was for a stain or mark on a surface, and English later extended that image to the figurative idea of a stain on a person's name or record.