blank

A2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈblæŋk/ See IPA manual

Freq #4959

Meanings

1

adj
With no writing, marks, or pictures on it; empty.

She handed me a blank sheet of paper.
2

adj
Showing no expression or feeling on the face.

He gave me a blank stare when I asked the question.
3

adj
(of a gun cartridge) Containing no bullet.

The actor's gun was loaded with blank cartridges.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · with no writing, marks, or... white

2 adj · showing no expression or... vacuous

Word family

Forms blankedblankerblankestblankingblanklyblanks

Related forms blankshire

Appears in

Phrases (4)

See all

blank paper
paper with nothing written or printed on it

Adjective + noun
blank face
a face that shows no emotion or reaction

Adjective + noun
blank cheque
a signed cheque on which the amount to be paid has not been filled in

Adjective + noun
blank endorsement
a signature transferring a financial document without naming the next recipient

Adjective + noun

Idioms (1)

See all

draw a blank
to be unable to recall or produce the needed answer or information

Simplified etymology

Blank entered Middle English from French blanc, “white,” a word ultimately of Germanic origin. It belongs to the same historical family as blanch and blanket.

Etymology

From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.

*bʰleyǵ- Proto-Indo-European blank Middle English blanc Old French *blank frk *blankaz Proto-Germanic

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# blank

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈblæŋk/
**Frequency rank:** 4959

## Meanings
1. With no writing, marks, or pictures on it; empty.
2. Showing no expression or feeling on the face.
3. (of a gun cartridge) Containing no bullet.

## Examples
- She handed me a blank sheet of paper.
- He gave me a blank stare when I asked the question.
- The actor's gun was loaded with blank cartridges.

## Related Forms
- blankshire

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *bʰleyǵ-
- Root: blank
- Root: blanc
- Root: *blank
- Root: *blankaz

## Etymology
From Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.

## AI Etymology
Blank comes from Middle English blank, blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Anglo-Norman blonc, blaunc, blaunche, from Old French blanc, feminine blanche, from Frankish *blank (“gleaming, white, blinding”), from Proto-Germanic *blankaz (“white, bright, blinding”), from Proto-Indo-European *bʰleyǵ- (“to shine”). Akin to Old High German blanch (“shining, bright, white”) (German blank), Old English blanc (“white, grey”), blanca (“white steed”), Spanish blanco. More at blink, blind, blanch. Doublet of blanc.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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