Blight - English meaning

noun

A cause of pain or harm.

Usage examples:

A crippling affliction of the nervous system

noun

Something that makes you suffer

Usage examples:

Malnutrition is one of the common afflictions of the poor.

noun

A cause of great distress or annoyance.

Usage examples:

The telephone was the bane of my life

noun

Something that is particularly effective in causing you trouble or worry

Usage examples:

Instead of doing his homework, my son is always playing computer games – they’re the bane of my exi…

noun

A cause of continuous trouble or unhappiness

Usage examples:

Keeping noise levels low is the bane of airport administration., that cat is the bane of my life!

noun

A destructive wave of highly compressed air spreading outwards from an explosion.

Usage examples:

They were thrown backwards by the blast

verb

Blow up or break apart (something solid) with explosives.

Usage examples:

The school was blasted by an explosion

exclamation

Expressing annoyance.

Usage examples:

‘blast! the car won't start!’

phrase

To make something finish

Usage examples:

He ran out of time and brought the interview to an end., we will have to use economic and military …

noun

An event causing great and often sudden damage or distress; a disaster.

Usage examples:

Emergency measures may be necessary in order to avert a calamity

noun

An event that causes much suffering to many people

Usage examples:

The factory closings were a calamity for the whole city.

noun

A serious accident or bad event causing damage or suffering

Usage examples:

A series of calamities ruined them - floods, a failed harvest, and the death of a son.

noun

A cylindrical metal container.

Usage examples:

A petrol can

verb

Preserve (food) in a can.

Usage examples:

Sardines and anchovies are worth the extra money if canned in olive oil

abbreviation

Canada or canadian.

noun

A disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.

Usage examples:

He's got cancer

proper noun

A constellation (the crab), said to represent a crab crushed under the foot of hercules. it contains the globular star cluster of praesepe or the beehive.

proper noun

The fourth sign of the zodiac, which the sun enters at the northern summer solstice (about 21 june).

noun

A destructive fungal disease of apple and other trees that results in damage to the bark.

Usage examples:

Cut out lesions on branches caused by canker

verb

(of a plant or part of a plant) become infected with canker.

Usage examples:

The tree is apt to canker in poor soils

noun

A disease that attacks the wood of trees

noun

The action or state of making or being made impure by polluting or poisoning.

Usage examples:

The risk of contamination by dangerous bacteria

noun

The process of making something dirty or poisonous, or the state of containing unwanted or dangerous substances

Usage examples:

The water supply is being tested for contamination ., the police immediately sealed off the crime s…

verb

Compress or squeeze forcefully so as to break, damage, or distort in shape.

Usage examples:

The front of his car was crushed in the collision

noun

A crowd of people pressed closely together.

Usage examples:

A number of youngsters fainted in the crush

verb

To press something very hard so that it is broken or its shape is destroyed

Usage examples:

The package got crushed in the mail., her car was crushed by a falling tree., i was crushed because…

noun

A solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something.

Usage examples:

She'd put a curse on him

verb

An offensive word or phrase used to express anger or annoyance.

Usage examples:

At every blow there was a curse

verb

To say rude or offensive words about something or someone because you are angry

Usage examples:

[ i ] no coach is allowed to curse at or lay a hand on a player., if we don't do something about th…

verb

Run or travel somewhere in a great hurry.

Usage examples:

I dashed into the garden

exclamation

Used to express mild annoyance.

Usage examples:

Dash it all, i am in charge

noun

An act of running somewhere suddenly and hastily.

Usage examples:

She made a dash for the door

verb

(of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi.

Usage examples:

The body had begun to decay

noun

The state or process of rotting or decomposition.

Usage examples:

Hardwood is more resistant to decay than softwood

noun

Damage, or a state that becomes gradually worse

Usage examples:

The dentist says i have a lot of tooth decay., there’s still too much crime, poverty, and decay in …

noun

A demonstration of a product or technique.

Usage examples:

A cookery demo

verb

Record (a song or piece of music) to demonstrate the capabilities of a musical group or performer or as preparation for a full recording.

Usage examples:

They've already demoed twelve new songs

noun

Short for demographic.

Usage examples:

Both channels managed to maintain ratings among young male demos

verb

End the existence of (something) by damaging or attacking it.

Usage examples:

The room had been destroyed by fire

verb

To damage something, esp. in a violent way, so that it can no longer be used or no longer exists

Usage examples:

You can use a shredder to destroy old bank statements., losing his job seemed to completely destroy…

verb

To damage something so badly that it cannot be used

Usage examples:

Most of the old part of the city was destroyed by bombs during the war., completely/totally destroy…

verb

Destroy or ruin.

Usage examples:

The city was devastated by a huge earthquake

verb

To cause great damage or suffering to something or someone, or to violently destroy a place

Usage examples:

Waves of corporate downsizing have devastated employee morale., i was so devastated i was crying co…

verb

To destroy a place or thing completely or cause great damage

noun

A disorder of structure or function in a human, animal, or plant, especially one that produces specific symptoms or that affects a specific location and is not simply a direct result of physical injury.

Usage examples:

Bacterial meningitis is quite a rare disease

noun

A condition of a person, animal, or plant in which its body or structure is harmed because an organ or part is unable to work as it usually does; an illness

Usage examples:

[ c ] mumps is an infectious disease., [ u ] he suffers from heart disease., [ u ] hundreds of thou…

noun

(an) illness of people, animals, plants, etc., caused by infection or a failure of health rather than by an accident

Usage examples:

A contagious/infectious disease, a common/rare/incurable/fatal disease, outbreak of disease they re…

verb

Interrupt (an event, activity, or process) by causing a disturbance or problem.

Usage examples:

Flooding disrupted rail services

verb

To prevent something, esp. a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected

Usage examples:

A heavy fall of snow disrupted traffic during the rush hour., [ c ] strikes threaten more disruptio…

verb

To prevent something, especially a system, process, or event, from continuing as usual or as expected

Usage examples:

Meetings with her lawyers did not disrupt the schedule., commerce could be disrupted in a cyberterr…

noun

A final part of something, especially a period of time, an activity, or a story.

Usage examples:

The end of the year

verb

Come or bring to a final point; finish.

Usage examples:

When the war ended, policy changed

suffix

Denoting a person or thing to be treated in a specified way.

Usage examples:

Dividend

adjective

Profoundly immoral and wicked.

Usage examples:

His evil deeds

noun

Profound immorality and wickedness, especially when regarded as a supernatural force.

Usage examples:

His struggle against the forces of evil

noun

The condition of being immoral, cruel, or bad, or an act of this type

Usage examples:

[ u ] a contest between good and evil, an evil ruler

verb

Prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.

Usage examples:

The rescue attempt was frustrated by bad weather

adjective

Frustrated.

Hinder or prevent, as an effort, plan, or desire

noun

Any of a group of spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter, including moulds, yeast, mushrooms, and toadstools.

Usage examples:

Truffles are fungi but not mushrooms

noun

A plant without leaves, flowers, or color that lives on other plants or on decaying matter

noun

Any of various types of organisms that get their food from decaying material or other living things

Usage examples:

Mushrooms and mould are fungi., fungus can be poisonous.

verb

Affect (a person, organism, etc.) with a disease-causing organism.

Usage examples:

Pregnant women who may have been infected with the virus

verb

To cause disease in someone by introducing organisms such as bacteria or viruses

Usage examples:

Mosquitoes can infect people with malaria., fig. fear of an attack infected the entire city., an in…

verb

To damage a computer's software or data with a harmful program that has been passed from another computer

Usage examples:

Be infected by/with sth the hackers hijacked personal computers that had been previously infected b…

noun

The presence of an unusually large number of insects or animals in a place, typically so as to cause damage or disease.

Usage examples:

Infestation with head lice is widespread

noun

A large number of animals and insects that carry disease, that are present where they are not wanted

Usage examples:

A flea infestation, an infestation of cockroaches/head lice

verb

Cause the death of (a person, animal, or other living thing).

Usage examples:

Her father was killed in a car crash

noun

An act of killing, especially of one animal by another.

Usage examples:

A lion has made a kill

noun

(in place names, especially in new york, new jersey, and pennsylvania) a stream, creek, or tributary.

Usage examples:

Kill van kull

noun

A condition of disorder and confusion, or something in that condition

Usage examples:

They left the kitchen a mess., we sat in traffic for two hours while they cleaned up the mess from …

verb

Impair the quality or appearance of; spoil.

Usage examples:

Violence marred a number of new year celebrations

abbreviation

March.

verb

To spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable

Usage examples:

Water will mar the finish of polished wood.

noun

A person or thing that is likely to cause harm; a threat or danger.

Usage examples:

A new initiative aimed at beating the menace of drugs

verb

Be a threat or possible danger to.

Usage examples:

Africa's elephants are still menaced by poaching

noun

Danger, or someone or something that is likely to cause harm

Usage examples:

[ u ] there was an air of controlled menace about him., [ c ] that boy is a menace to himself and h…

noun

A thin whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on plants or damp organic material such as paper.

Usage examples:

And the rainwater leaking into homes now could cause health problems months from now when mould and…

verb

Affect or be affected with mildew.

Usage examples:

The flat was very damp and mildewed

noun

A soft, usually white, green, or black area caused by a fungus that sometimes grows on things such as plants, food, paper, or buildings, esp. if the conditions are warm and wet

noun

Bad luck.

Usage examples:

The project was dogged by misfortune

noun

Bad luck, or an unlucky event

Usage examples:

[ c ] never take delight in someone’s personal misfortunes., [ u ] the school nurse was as mean a l…

noun

A hollow container used to give shape to molten or hot liquid material when it cools and hardens.

Usage examples:

The smith would pour the molten metal into the shaped mould

verb

Form (an object) out of malleable material.

Usage examples:

Mould the figure from white fondant

noun

A furry growth of minute fungi occurring typically in moist warm conditions, especially on food or other organic matter.

Usage examples:

Mould may flourish unhindered

idiom

To stop something before it has an opportunity to develop

Usage examples:

We have to nip these money problems in the bud before we get into real trouble.

noun

A person or thing causing inconvenience or annoyance.

Usage examples:

It's a nuisance having all those people clomping through the house

noun

Something or someone that annoys you or causes trouble for you

Usage examples:

It’s a nuisance filling out all these forms.

noun

Someone or something that causes a problem for other people, an area, etc. that may be able to be solved by the law

Usage examples:

Residents claim that the company's emissions are harmful and constitute a nuisance., noise/odour/pu…

noun

A very unpleasant and prolonged experience.

Usage examples:

The ordeal of having to give evidence

noun

An experience that is very painful, difficult, or tiring

Usage examples:

Her seven-month stay in the hospital was quite an ordeal.

noun

A destructive insect or other animal that attacks crops, food, livestock, etc.

Usage examples:

The tomato plant attracts a pest called whitefly

noun

An insect or small animal that is harmful or damages crops

Usage examples:

The aphid is a garden pest., my brother is such a pest.

noun

A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium, typically with the formation of buboes (bubonic plague) and sometimes infection of the lungs (pneumonic plague).

Usage examples:

Person-to-person spread of bubonic or septicemic plague does not occur; however, pneumonic plague i…

verb

A contagious bacterial disease characterized by fever and delirium, typically with the formation of buboes ( bubonic plague ) and sometimes infection of the lungs ( pneumonic plague ).

verb

To cause someone or something difficulty or suffering, esp. repeatedly or continually

Usage examples:

Financial problems have been plaguing the company., that pain in my shoulder is plaguing me again.,…

idiom

To make a situation much more difficult or confusing

Usage examples:

The snowstorm is really playing havoc with rush-hour traffic., the acid rain plays havoc with marin…

noun

The presence in or introduction into the environment of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects.

Usage examples:

The level of pollution in the air is rising

Contamination of the natural environment

noun

The act of polluting, or the substances that pollute

Usage examples:

Air pollution, pollution from the factory could be contaminating nearby wells.

verb

Keep (something) from happening.

Usage examples:

Action must be taken to prevent further accidents

verb

To stop something from happening or someone from doing something

Usage examples:

The police tried to prevent him from leaving., can this type of accident be prevented?, fortunately…

verb

To finish doing something or end, or to cause someone or something to finish

Usage examples:

[ i ] when do you think the snow will stop?, [ t ] when will it stop snowing?, [ t ] please stop pu…

verb

To prevent something from happening or continuing, or to not continue to happen

Usage examples:

Are these new environmental laws enough to stop climate change?, the government demanded that the p…

idiom

To cause something to stop existing or happening

Usage examples:

Mrs. carroll said she was going to put an end to all the talking and fooling around in our class.

verb

Reject as invalid, especially by legal procedure.

Usage examples:

His conviction was quashed on appeal

verb

To stop or block something from happening

Usage examples:

The secretary of defense tried to quash speculation that he was planning to resign following the di…

verb

To state officially that something, especially an earlier official decision, is no longer to be accepted

Usage examples:

Quash a conviction/decision/order his conviction was quashed in march after a lengthy legal battle.…

verb

Put an end to (a rebellion or other disorder), typically by the use of force.

Usage examples:

Extra police were called to quell the disturbance

verb

To completely stop or end something

Usage examples:

The police were called in to quell the riot., he’s been unable to quell his wife’s suspicions.

verb

(chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose.

Usage examples:

The chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away

noun

The process of decaying.

Usage examples:

The leaves were turning black with rot

verb

To decay, or to cause something to decay or weaken

Usage examples:

[ i ] the fallen apples rotted on the ground., [ t ] dampness rotted the old wood., rot weakened th…

noun

The physical destruction or disintegration of something or the state of disintegrating or being destroyed.

Usage examples:

A large white house falling into gentle ruin

verb

Reduce (a building or place) to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration.

Usage examples:

The castle was ruined when dynamite was used to demolish one of the corner towers

verb

To spoil or destroy something

Usage examples:

It would be a shame to ruin such a beautiful place., that guy isn’t going to ruin my life.

verb

Decisively put an end to.

Usage examples:

A spokesman has scotched the rumours

noun

A wedge placed under a wheel or other rolling object to prevent it moving or slipping.

noun

A cut or score in skin or another surface.

Usage examples:

A scotch in his face

noun

A whip used as an instrument of punishment.

Usage examples:

Begone, or shall i be required to chastise you with the whip and the scourge once more?

verb

Whip (someone) as a punishment.

Usage examples:

Our people did scourge him severely

noun

Someone or something that causes harm, evil, or destruction

Usage examples:

Smallpox, that scourge of previous generations, now is effectively extinct.

verb

Break or cause to break suddenly and violently into pieces.

Usage examples:

Bullets riddled the bar top, glasses shattered, bottles exploded

verb

Wrinkle and contract or cause to wrinkle and contract, especially due to loss of moisture.

Usage examples:

The flowers simply shrivelled up

verb

To become dried out and smaller, appearing crushed or folded, or to make something do this

Usage examples:

[ t ] the hot sun shriveled the flowers i put in the window.

verb

Diminish or destroy the value or quality of.

Usage examples:

I wouldn't want to spoil your fun

noun

Goods stolen or taken forcibly from a person or place.

Usage examples:

The looters carried their spoils away

verb

To destroy or damage something, or to become destroyed or damaged

Usage examples:

[ t ] the oil spill spoiled five miles of coastline., [ t ] don’t tell me how it ends, you’ll spoil…

noun

A formal examination of evidence by a judge, typically before a jury, in order to decide guilt in a case of criminal or civil proceedings.

Usage examples:

The newspaper accounts of the trial

verb

Test (something, especially a new product) to assess its suitability or performance.

Usage examples:

Teachers all over the uk are trialling the materials

noun

The examination in a court of law of the facts of a case to decide whether a person is guilty of a crime or responsible for an injury to another person

Usage examples:

[ c ] a criminal/civil trial, [ u ] the case will soon go to trial (= begin)., [ u ] she must still…

noun

A cause of great trouble or suffering.

Usage examples:

The tribulations of being a megastar

noun

Difficulty or problems.

Usage examples:

I had trouble finding somewhere to park

verb

Cause distress or anxiety to.

Usage examples:

He was not troubled by doubts

noun

A problem, or difficulties

Usage examples:

[ u ] trouble began when he came to live with us., [ c ] she thought her troubles would be over whe…

verb

Unfasten, untie, or loosen (something).

Usage examples:

The knot was difficult to undo

noun

A feature of a computer program that allows a user to cancel or reverse the last command executed.

Usage examples:

The undo command

verb

Cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect

noun

The appearance of a divine or supernatural being.

Usage examples:

Visitations in the form of a child whimpering

noun

The act of visiting, or a visit

Usage examples:

[ u ] the hospital has strict rules about visitation.

verb

(of a plant) become dry and shrivelled.

Usage examples:

The grass had withered to an unappealing brown

verb

To become, or cause something to become, weak, dry, and smaller

Usage examples:

[ t ] hot, dry weather withered the peanut crop in the southeast., [ i ] fig. public interest in th…

noun

Great sorrow or distress (often used hyperbolically).

Usage examples:

The everton tale of woe continued

noun

The destruction of a ship at sea; a shipwreck.

Usage examples:

The survivors of the wreck

verb

Destroy or severely damage (a structure, vehicle, or similar).

Usage examples:

The blast wrecked 100 houses

verb

Something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation