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blotch (blŏch)
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n.
1. A spot or blot; a splotch.
2. A discoloration on the skin; a blemish.
3. Any of several plant diseases caused by fungi or bacteria and resulting in brown or black dead areas on leaves or fruit.
tr. & intr.v. blotched, blotch·ing, blotch·es
To mark or become marked with blotches.
[Probably blend of BLOT1 and BOTCH.]
blotchi·ly adv.
blotchi·ness n.
blotchy adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2020 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
 

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

    Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

    Indo-European Roots

    Semitic Roots

    The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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