What is blank? How to use in English

Definition & pronunciation of blank

blankadjective

trống, để trắng, sự trống rỗng

/blaŋk/

Definition & pronunciation of <b>blank</b>

Where does the word blank come from?

One theory is that the word "blank" came from the Old English word "blank", which referred to the white or blank pages in a manuscript. This sense of the word was later extended to describe a page without writing or printing. In the 14th century, "blank" took on a new meaning, referring to something that was empty, empty, or contained nothing. This sense of the word is still used today in phrases like "blank slate" or "blank check". Over time, the spelling of the word evolved from "blanc" to "blank", but its core meaning remains the same – a reference to a lack or absence of content or substance.

Vocabulary summary blank

typeadjective

meaningto leave blank, to leave blank (a sheet of paper...)

exampleto fill the blank

examplea blank cheque

examplea blank space

meaningempty; blank, spiritless (look...)

examplehis mind is a complete blank

examplea blank look

examplehis money is completely blank on the subject

meaningunloaded (bullet); fake

examplewhat a blank such a life is!

exampleblank window

typenoun

meaningblank space, space, blank line

exampleto fill the blank

examplea blank cheque

examplea blank space

meaningemptiness

examplehis mind is a complete blank

examplea blank look

examplehis money is completely blank on the subject

meaningemptiness

examplewhat a blank such a life is!

exampleblank window

Example of vocabulary blanknamespace

meaning

empty, with nothing written, printed or recorded on it

  • Sign your name in the blank space below.
  • a blank CD
  • Write on one side of the paper and leave the other side blank.
  • She turned to a blank page in her notebook.
  • I left the third column blank.
meaning

empty; with no pictures, marks or decoration

  • blank whitewashed walls
  • Suddenly the screen went blank.
meaning

showing no feeling, understanding or interest

  • She stared at me with a blank expression on her face.
  • Steve looked blank and said he had no idea what I was talking about.
  • Suddenly my mind went blank (= I could not remember anything).
  • I asked several people about it and just got blank stares in return.
meaning

complete and total

  • a blank refusal/denial

Idioms of vocabulary blank

a blank canvas/slate
a person or thing that has the potential to be developed or changed in many different ways
  • The building is a blank canvas for a clever investor to potentially make a lot of money.
  • Alice was a blank slate in the first film because she had memory loss and knew nothing about herself.

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