blank

II. blank² BrE AmE noun [countable]
1. an empty space on a piece of paper, where you are supposed to write a word or letter:
When you’ve filled in the blanks, hand the form back to me.
2. my mind’s a blank spoken used to say that you cannot remember something:
I’m trying to think of his name, but my mind’s a complete blank.
3. a ↑cartridge (=container for a bullet in a gun) that contains an explosive but no bullet:
Soldiers fired blanks into the crowd.
4. be shooting/firing blanks informal if a man is shooting blanks or firing blanks, his ↑sperm is not able to make a woman ↑pregnant
⇨ draw a blank at ↑draw¹(32)

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

noun
1. countable an empty space on a printed form or document for you to write answers, information, etc. in
• Please fill in the blanks.

• If you can't answer the question, leave a blank.

2. singular a state of not being able to remember anything

• My mind was a blank and I couldn't remember her name.

3. countable (also ˌblank ˈcartridge) a cartridge in a gun that contains an explosive but no bullet
• The troops fired blanks in the air.
see draw a blank at draw _v.
Word Origin:
Middle English (in the sense ‘white, colourless’): from Old French blanc ‘white’, ultimately of Germanic origin.
Example Bank:
• If you don't know the answer, just leave a blank.
• In the test, we had to fill in the blanks.

• Soldiers fired blanks into the sky.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition

blank / blæŋk / noun [ C ]

a space in a piece of writing or on a form, left empty for information to be added:

Fill in the blanks in this form.

something not yet drawn or finished, such as a key not yet cut into a finished shape ( also ˌ blank ˈ cartridge ) a small tube containing explosive but no bullet, used in a gun in order to make a loud noise without causing harm:

The starter's pistol fires blanks.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

blank

[blæ̱ŋk]
blanks, blanking, blanked
1) ADJ Something that is blank has nothing on it.
  We could put some of the pictures over on that blank wall over there...
  He tore a blank page from his notebook.
  ...blank cassettes.
2) N-COUNT A blank is a space which is left in a piece of writing or on a printed form for you to fill in particular information.
  Put a word in each blank to complete the sentence.
3) ADJ-GRADED If you look blank, your face shows no feeling, understanding, or interest.
  Abbot looked blank. `I don't quite follow, sir.'...
  His daughter gave him a blank look.
  Derived words:
  blankly ADV-GRADED ADV with v She stared at him blankly.
  blankness N-UNCOUNT His eyes have the blankness of someone half-asleep.
4) N-SING: a N If your mind or memory is a blank, you cannot think of anything or remember anything.
  I'm sorry, but my mind is a blank...
  I came round in hospital and did not know where I was. Everything was a complete blank.
5) N-COUNT: usu pl Blanks are gun cartridges which contain explosive but do not contain a bullet, so that they cause no harm when the gun is fired.
  ...a starter pistol which only fires blanks.
6) → See also point-blank
7) PHRASE: V inflects If you draw a blank when you are looking for someone or something, you do not succeed in finding them. [INFORMAL]
  They drew a blank in their search for the driver.
8) PHRASE: V inflects If your mind goes blank, you are suddenly unable to think of anything appropriate to say, for example in reply to a question.
  My mind went totally blank.
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - blank out

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary:

²blank noun, pl blanks
1 [count] : an empty space on a document where you put information
• The form has a blank for your signature.
• Please fill in the blanks. [=put information in the blank spaces]
- sometimes used figuratively
• At the end of the movie, the narrator goes back and fills in (all) the blanks. [=the narrator provides missing information about the movie's plot]
2 [singular] : a period of time that you cannot remember anything about
• He says that the first hour after the accident is a complete blank. [=he cannot remember anything that happened for an hour after the accident]
✦If your mind is/draws a blank or if you draw a blank, you are unable to remember or think of something.
• I should know the answer, but my mind's a blank.
• I drew a blank when I tried to remember his name.
3 [count] : a gun cartridge that is filled with powder but that does not contain a bullet
• The actors are shooting/firing blanks.