Blind alley

Blind alley
Blind Blind, a. [AS.; akin to D., G., OS., Sw., & Dan. blind, Icel. blindr, Goth. blinds; of uncertain origin.] 1. Destitute of the sense of seeing, either by natural defect or by deprivation; without sight. [1913 Webster]

He that is strucken blind can not forget The precious treasure of his eyesight lost. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. Not having the faculty of discernment; destitute of intellectual light; unable or unwilling to understand or judge; as, authors are blind to their own defects. [1913 Webster]

But hard be hardened, blind be blinded more, That they may stumble on, and deeper fall. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Undiscerning; undiscriminating; inconsiderate. [1913 Webster]

This plan is recommended neither to blind approbation nor to blind reprobation. --Jay. [1913 Webster]

4. Having such a state or condition as a thing would have to a person who is blind; not well marked or easily discernible; hidden; unseen; concealed; as, a blind path; a blind ditch. [1913 Webster]

5. Involved; intricate; not easily followed or traced. [1913 Webster]

The blind mazes of this tangled wood. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

6. Having no openings for light or passage; as, a blind wall; open only at one end; as, a blind alley; a blind gut. [1913 Webster]

7. Unintelligible, or not easily intelligible; as, a blind passage in a book; illegible; as, blind writing. [1913 Webster]

8. (Hort.) Abortive; failing to produce flowers or fruit; as, blind buds; blind flowers. [1913 Webster]

{Blind alley}, an alley closed at one end; a cul-de-sac.

{Blind axle}, an axle which turns but does not communicate motion. --Knight.

{Blind beetle}, one of the insects apt to fly against people, esp. at night.

{Blind cat} (Zo["o]l.), a species of catfish ({Gronias nigrolabris}), nearly destitute of eyes, living in caverns in Pennsylvania.

{Blind coal}, coal that burns without flame; anthracite coal. --Simmonds.

{Blind door}, {Blind window}, an imitation of a door or window, without an opening for passage or light. See {Blank door} or {Blank window}, under {Blank}, a.

{Blind level} (Mining), a level or drainage gallery which has a vertical shaft at each end, and acts as an inverted siphon. --Knight.

{Blind nettle} (Bot.), dead nettle. See {Dead nettle}, under {Dead}.

{Blind shell} (Gunnery), a shell containing no charge, or one that does not explode.

{Blind side}, the side which is most easily assailed; a weak or unguarded side; the side on which one is least able or disposed to see danger. --Swift.

{Blind snake} (Zo["o]l.), a small, harmless, burrowing snake, of the family {Typhlopid[ae]}, with rudimentary eyes.

{Blind spot} (Anat.), the point in the retina of the eye where the optic nerve enters, and which is insensible to light.

{Blind tooling}, in bookbinding and leather work, the indented impression of heated tools, without gilding; -- called also {blank tooling}, and {blind blocking}.

{Blind wall}, a wall without an opening; a blank wall. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • blind alley — blind alleys N COUNT If you describe a situation as a blind alley, you mean that progress is not possible or that the situation can have no useful results. We are all now beginning to appreciate that this type of music is a blind alley. Syn: dead …   English dictionary

  • blind alley — noun count 1. ) a process that was expected to bring useful results but in fact achieves nothing: Unfortunately the research turned out to be a blind alley. 2. ) a narrow path between or behind buildings, that is closed at one end …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • blind alley — n. 1. an alley or passage shut off at one end 2. any undertaking, idea, etc. that leads to nothing …   English World dictionary

  • blind alley — n 1.) a small narrow street with no way out at one end 2.) a way of doing something that seems as if it will have a successful result, but which in fact does not ▪ False information has led the police up a series of blind alleys …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Blind Alley — For other uses, see Blind Alley (disambiguation). Blind Alley Author Isaac Asimov Country United States Language English Series Empire Series …   Wikipedia

  • blind alley — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms blind alley : singular blind alley plural blind alleys 1) a process that was expected to bring useful results but in fact achieves nothing This type of research turned out to be a blind alley. 2) a narrow path… …   English dictionary

  • blind alley — {n.} 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance and no exit. * /The blind alley ended in a brick wall./ 2. A way of acting that leads to no good results. * /John did not take the job because it was a blind alley./ * /Tom thought of a way to do …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • blind alley — {n.} 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance and no exit. * /The blind alley ended in a brick wall./ 2. A way of acting that leads to no good results. * /John did not take the job because it was a blind alley./ * /Tom thought of a way to do …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • blind\ alley — noun 1. A narrow street that has only one entrance and no exit. The blind alley ended in a brick wall. 2. A way of acting that leads to no good results. John did not take the job because it was a blind alley. Tom thought of a way to do the… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • blind alley —    If you go up a blind alley, you follow an ineffective course of action which leads nowhere or produces no results.     The suspect s revelations lead the police up a blind alley …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”