Language Research

blood · noun U

/blʌd/Full view

Word family

Nouns: blood, bleeding

Adjectives: bloodless, bloody

Verbs: bleed

blood (RED LIQUID)

A2 the red liquid that flows around your body

Dictionary examples:

a blood test/sample

He lost a lot of blood in the accident.

You can give blood at the local hospital.

Learner example:

I opened the door and screamed - in front of me was a man standing with hands covered in blood. (Preliminary English Test; B1; German)

new blood

C1 new people in an organization who will provide new ideas and energy

Dictionary example:

We need some new blood in the organization.

Learner example:

Regardless of the age limit many companies encourage employees in high positions to retire after 55 as they want some new blood or probably a new look for the company. (International English Language Testing System; C1; Urdu)

in cold blood

C2 in a cruel way, without showing any emotion

Dictionary example:

He shot three policemen in cold blood.

Learner example:

Returning to the story, when I arrived, I went directly to Hillton Avenue where I should have met 005, but when I arrived at the meeting point I found him lying on the floor with two shots in his back; he had been murdered in cold blood. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Catalan)

blood (FAMILY ORIGIN)

C2 the family or place that you come from

Dictionary example:

I've got some Spanish blood in me.

Learner example:

I have a background in my blood which, I believe, explains my way of thinking: my mother is Dutch and my father is half from Alsace, half from Hungary. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; French)

make your blood run cold

C2 If something makes your blood run cold, it frightens you very much.

Dictionary example:

I heard a tapping on the window which made my blood run cold.

Learner example:

This thought scared me and made my blood run cold. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Turkish)

make your blood boil

C2 to make you extremely angry

Dictionary example:

The way they have treated those people makes my blood boil.

Learner example:

Paul said something repulsive, with a cold light in his eyes, and it made her blood boil. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Polish)

your own flesh and blood

C2 a member of your family

Dictionary example:

I can't hate him - he's my own flesh and blood.

Learner example:

On the other hand, another problem old people have to face is a feeling of [not] being useful to society and what proves this is that they are put into old people's homes even by their own flesh and blood. (Certificate of Proficiency in English; C2; Spanish)