Bland

Pronunciation

• IPA: /blænd/
• Rhymes: -ænd

From Middle English blanden, blonden, from Old English blandan ("to blend, mix, mingle; trouble, disturb, corrupt"), from Proto-Germanic *blandanÄ… ("to mix, blend"), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlendh- ("to grow turbid, dim, see badly, be blind"). Cognate with Danish and Norwegian blande, Swedish blanda ("to mix, mingle, shuffle, blend"), Icelandic blanda ("to mix"). See also blend.

Full definition of bland

Verb

1. (transitive, UK dialectal) To mix; blend; mingle.
2. (transitive, UK dialectal) To connect; associate.

From Middle English bland, from Old English bland, blond ("blending, mixture, confusion"), from Proto-Germanic *blandÄ… ("a mixing, mixture"), from Proto-Indo-European *bhlendh- ("to grow turbid, dim, see badly, be blind"). Cognate with Icelandic blanda ("a mixture of liquids, especially of hot whey and water").

Alternative forms

• blaind, blaund Scotland

Noun

1. (UK dialectal) Mixture; union.
2. An agreeable summer beverage prepared from the whey of churned milk, common among the inhabitants of the Shetland Islands.

Derived terms

• in bland

Ultimately from Latin blandus ("pleasant, flattering").

Adjective

1. (now rare) Mild; soft, gentle, balmy; smooth in manner; suave.
• 1818, John Keats, "Sonnet":Where didst thou find, young Bard, thy sounding lyre?
  Where the bland accent, and the tender tone?
2. Having a soothing effect; not irritating or stimulating.a bland oila bland diet
3. Lacking in taste, flavor, or vigor.''the coffee was bland''the judge found the defense's case to be bland