bland
pronunciation
How to pronounce bland in British English:
UK [blænd]
How to pronounce bland in American English:
US [blænd]
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- Adjective:
- lacking either stimulating or irritating characteristics
- lacking taste or flavor or tang
- lacking stimulating characteristics; uninteresting
Word Origin
- bland (adj.)
- 1660s, from Italian blando "delicate," or Old French bland "flattering, complimentary," both from Latin blandus "smooth-talking, flattering, alluring," perhaps from PIE *mlad-, nasalized variant of *meld-, extended form of root *mel- (see melt). Related: Blandly; blandness. Latin also had blandiloquentulus "flattering in speech," which might have yielded a useful English *blandiloquent.
Example
- 1. Some africans find western drinks bland .
- 2. Dishes that are bland or very subtle may not work so well with cocktails .
- 3. Foodies think bland translations will stop visitors from experiencing real chinese food .
- 4. These days hu jintao , china 's leader , prefers the deliberately bland " harmonious world " .
- 5. Without salt , meals may seem bland for a couple of days , but your taste buds can easily be retrained .