blind (bl?nd)adj. blind·er, blind·est 1. a. Sightless.b. Having a maximal visual acuity of the better eye, after correction by refractive lenses, of one-tenth normal vision or less (20/200 or less on the Snellen test).c. Of, relating to, or for sightless persons.2. a. Performed or made without the benefit of background information that might prejudice the outcome or result: blind taste tests used in marketing studies.b. Performed without preparation, experience, or knowledge: a blind stab at answering the question.c. Performed by instruments and without the use of sight: blind navigation.3. Unable or unwilling to perceive or understand: blind to a lover’s faults.4. Not based on reason or evidence; unquestioning: put blind faith in their leaders.5. Slang Drunk.6. Lacking reason or purpose: blind fate; blind choice.7. a. Difficult to comprehend or see; illegible.b. Incompletely or illegibly addressed: blind mail.c. Hidden from sight: a blind seam.d. Screened from the view of oncoming motorists: a blind driveway.e. Secret or otherwise undisclosed: a blind item in a military budget.8. Closed at one end: a blind socket; a blind passage.9. Having no opening: a blind wall.10. Botany Failing to produce flowers or fruits: a blind bud.n.1. (used with a pl. verb) Blind people considered as a group. Used with the: a radio station for reading to the blind.2. often blinds Something, such as a window shade or a Venetian blind, that hinders vision or shuts out light.3. A shelter for concealing hunters, photographers, or observers of wildlife.4. Something intended to conceal the true nature, especially of an activity; a subterfuge.5. A forced bet in poker that is placed before the cards are dealt.adv.1. a. Without seeing; blindly.b. Without the aid of visual reference: flew blind through the fog.2. Without forethought or provision; unawares: entered into the scheme blind.3. Without significant information, especially that might affect an outcome or result: “When you read blind, you see everything but the author” (Margaret Atwood).4. Informal Into a stupor: drank themselves blind.5. Used as an intensive: Thieves in the bazaar robbed us blind.tr.v. blind·ed, blind·ing, blinds 1. To deprive of sight: was blinded in an industrial accident.2. To dazzle: skiers temporarily blinded by sunlight on snow.3. To deprive of perception or insight: prejudice that blinded them to the proposal’s merits.4. To withhold light from: Thick shrubs blinded our downstairs windows.[Middle English, from Old English; see bhel- in Indo-European roots.]blind?ing·ly adv.blind?ly adv.blind?ness n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.BlindnessSee also eyes. ablepsia, ablepsya lack or loss of sight. ? ableptical, adj.amaurosisa condition of partial or total blindness, caused by a disease of the optie nerve. ? amaurotic, adj.amblyopia, amblyopyobscurity of vision, occurring without any organic change in the eyes; the first stage of amaurosis. ? amblyopic, adj.anopsy, anopsia, anoöpsiablindness.cecityblindness.chionablepsiaMedicine. the condition of snow blindness.eluscationObsolete, the state of having defective eyesight; purblindness.excecationObsolete, the process of blinding.glaucomaa disease of the eyes, in which the eyeball hardens and becomes tense, often resulting in blindness. ? glaucomatous, adj.hemeralopiathe loss of sight in daylight. ? hemeralopic, adj.noctographa writing frame designed for use by blind people.nyctalopiathe loss of sight in darkness. ? nyctalopic, adj.optophonea device combining a selenium cell and telephone apparatus that converts light energy into sound energy, used to enable blind people to sense light through the hearing and thus read printed matter.scotographan instrument for writing when unable to see.scotoma, scotomya blind spot or blind area in the field of vision.typhlologythe totality of medical knowledge concerning the causes, treatment, and prevention of blindness.typhlophilea person who devotes himself to helping the blind.typhlosisblindness. ? typhlotic, adj.-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.