blot

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: a soiling or disfiguring mark : spot
2
: a mark of reproach : moral flaw
3
: a usually nitrocellulose or nylon sheet that contains spots of immobilized macromolecules (as of DNA, RNA, or protein) or their fragments and is used to identify specific components of the spots by applying a molecular probe (such as a complementary nucleic acid or a radiolabeled antibody) compare southern blot, western blot

blot

2 of 3

verb

blotted; blotting

transitive verb

1
: to spot, stain, or spatter with a discoloring substance
2
obsolete : mar
especially : to stain with infamy
3
a
: to dry (something, such as writing) with an absorbing agent
hastily blotted her letter
b
: to remove with absorbing material
blotting up spilled water

intransitive verb

1
: to make a blot
2
: to become marked with a blot

blot

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a lone backgammon man exposed to capture
2
archaic : a weak or exposed point

Examples of blot in a Sentence

Verb Don't rub the wine stain. Blot it dry with a paper towel. Blot your lipstick with a tissue.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Add a bit more color to the corners of the lips, then use your fingers to blot and blur the edges. Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024 Studies have already shown that AI programs can generate realistic looking figures of common experiments like western blots, Starke said. Evan Bush, NBC News, 26 Jan. 2024 Wakefield lost his medical license in Britain as a result, but his work has remained a blot on public health ever since. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Irrespective of the outcome, this represents a blot on the American escutcheon. Nr Editors, National Review, 9 Feb. 2024 Determined to do something about it, Hill sought assistance at the Legacy Reentry Foundation in Waukegan to remove the blot on her record and get some job counseling. Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 26 Jan. 2024 In others, western blots, used by scientists to detect proteins, and images of stained cells appear to be flipped, stretched and resized, David writes. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Jan. 2024 Typical western blot data looks like the image at right, with the darkness of the bands representing proteins that are present at different levels in different conditions. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 Jan. 2024 Carefully take your cotton ball and blot or dab the area (do not smear) with acetone. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023
Verb
Remove pretzels and place on paper towels to blot the bottoms dry. Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Feb. 2024 Steering clear of sponges, scrub brushes, and cloths — or at least using them gingerly — can help, too, as can patting or blotting your skin when toweling dry. Alex Orlando, Discover Magazine, 2 Feb. 2024 After five hours in the cold, my face didn’t feel dry at all and the coverage held up even after blotting once or twice. Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Jan. 2024 Tangle Teezer The Ultimate Detangling Brush Try blotting sheets. Danielle Sinay, Glamour, 5 Oct. 2023 Use them for blotting splatters off the bathroom mirror, cleaning around stovetop burners, wiping muddy paws, and more. Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 15 Aug. 2023 Apply it to the carpet stain and let sit for 10 minutes before blotting away. Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Aug. 2023 When the stain disappears, blot the surface with a clean cloth and cool water. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023 Cons Stains are a little trickier to remove and don’t come up completely with just blotting alone. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 7 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English

Noun (2)

perhaps from Dutch bloot naked, exposed, from Middle Dutch; akin to Middle High German bloz bare

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of blot was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near blot

Cite this Entry

“Blot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blot. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blot

2 of 2 verb
blotted; blotting
1
2
3
4
: to dry with something absorbent
5
: to mark or become marked with a blot

Medical Definition

blot

noun
: a nitrocellulose sheet that contains spots of immobilized macromolecules (as of DNA, RNA, or protein) or their fragments and that is used to identify specific components of the spots by applying a suitable molecular probe (as a complementary nucleic acid or a radiolabeled antibody) see northern blot, southern blot, western blot
blot transitive verb

More from Merriam-Webster on blot

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