Search

the fluid that circulates in the principal vascular system of human beings and other vertebrates, in humans consisting of plasma in which the red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets are suspended.
the vital principle; life:
The excitement had got into the very blood of the nation.
a person or group regarded as a source of energy, vitality, or vigor:
It’s time we got some new blood in this company.
one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing cheerfulness.
bloodshed; gore; slaughter; murder:
to avenge the blood of his father.
the juice or sap of plants:
the blood of the grape.
temperament; state of mind:
a person of hot blood.
physical nature of human beings:
the frailty of our blood.
Chiefly British. a high-spirited dandy; an adventuresome youth:
the young bloods of Cambridge.
a profligate or rake.
physical and cultural extraction:
It was a trait that seemed to be in their blood.
royal extraction:
a prince of the blood.
descent from a common ancestor; ancestry; lineage:
related by blood.
recorded and respected ancestry; purebred breeding.
Slang. a black person, especially a man.
Hunting. to give (hounds) a first sight or taste of blood.
Compare flesh (def 14).
to stain with blood.
get / have one’s blood up, to become or be enraged or impassioned:
Injustice of any sort always gets my blood up.
have someone’s blood on one’s head / hands, to be to blame for someone’s affliction or death:
Though a criminal, he had no blood on his hands.
in cold blood, deliberately; ruthlessly:
The dictator, in cold blood, ordered the execution of all his political enemies.
make one’s blood boil, to inspire resentment, anger, or indignation:
Such carelessness makes my blood boil.
make one’s blood run cold, to fill with terror; frighten:
The dark, deserted street in that unfamiliar neighborhood made her blood run cold.
sweat blood. sweat (def 37).
taste blood, to experience a new sensation, usually a violent or destructive one, and acquire an appetite for it:
Once the team had tasted blood, there was no preventing them from winning by a wide margin.
Contemporary Examples

The Pope Confesses Church’s ‘Obsession’ With Gays, Abortion Barbie Latza Nadeau September 18, 2013
Monument Valley From the Eyes of a Krazy Kat and John Ford Fan Malcolm Jones February 2, 2012
Jodi Kantor’s Book ‘The Obamas’: Tensions Between Michelle and the White House and More January 7, 2012
The Tuition Black Market Kathleen Kingsbury August 11, 2009
Did the Virgin Mary Warn Rwanda’s Holiest Town of the Genocide? Nina Strochlic April 19, 2014

Historical Examples

The Downfall Emile Zola
Celebrated Travels and Travellers Jules Verne
Therese Raquin Emile Zola
Folkways William Graham Sumner
The Greater Power Harold Bindloss

noun
a reddish fluid in vertebrates that is pumped by the heart through the arteries and veins, supplies tissues with nutrients, oxygen, etc, and removes waste products. It consists of a fluid (see blood plasma) containing cells (erythrocytes, leucocytes, and platelets) related adjectives haemal haematic sanguineous
a similar fluid in such invertebrates as annelids and arthropods
bloodshed, esp when resulting in murder
the guilt or responsibility for killing or injuring (esp in the phrase to have blood on one’s hands or head)
life itself; lifeblood
relationship through being of the same family, race, or kind; kinship
(informal) blood, sweat and tears, hard work and concentrated effort
flesh and blood

near kindred or kinship, esp that between a parent and child
human nature (esp in the phrase it’s more than flesh and blood can stand)

ethnic or national descent: of Spanish blood
in one’s blood, as a natural or inherited characteristic or talent
the blood, royal or noble descent: a prince of the blood
temperament; disposition; temper

good or pure breeding; pedigree
(as modifier): blood horses

people viewed as members of a group, esp as an invigorating force (in the phrases new blood, young blood)
(mainly Brit, rare) a dashing young man; dandy; rake
the sensual or carnal nature of man
(obsolete) one of the four bodily humours See humour (sense 8)
bad blood, hatred; ill feeling
blood is thicker than water, family duties and loyalty outweigh other ties
have one’s blood up, get one’s blood up, to be or cause to be angry or inflamed
in cold blood, showing no passion; deliberately; ruthlessly
make one’s blood boil, to cause to be angry or indignant
make one’s blood run cold, to fill with horror
verb (transitive)
(hunting) to cause (young hounds) to taste the blood of a freshly killed quarry and so become keen to hunt
(hunting) to smear the cheeks or forehead of (a person) with the blood of the kill as an initiation in hunting
to initiate (a person) to an activity or organization, esp by real-life experience
noun
Thomas, known as Colonel Blood. ?1618–80, Irish adventurer, who tried to steal the crown jewels (1671)
n.
v.

blood
(blŭd)

A fashionable and popular man: crew cut like the college blood (1900s+ College students)
A fellow black; blood brother: Us cats, well, we was all bloods (Black)

In addition to the idiom beginning with
blood