blended
blended — adjective
1. describes a drink that contains two or more different types of the same product,
describes a drink that contains two or more different types of the same product, such as coffee, tea, or whisky, mixed together to create a new flavour.
Mei ordered a blended coffee with beans from three different countries.
blended + [drink type]: used before the name of a drink
Diego prefers blended whisky because the flavour is smoother than a single type.
The shop sells a blended black tea that combines leaves from India and Sri Lanka.
- single-origin
describes a drink made from one source only
- unblended
describes a product that has not been mixed
文法句型
blended + [drink type]
用法筆記
Only used before a noun that names a type of drink. Not used for non-drink mixtures.
常見錯誤
blended — noun
1. a product that is made by mixing two or more different types, grades, or varieti
a product that is made by mixing two or more different types, grades, or varieties of something together.
Keiko bought a blend of green and black tea at the market.
a blend of + [things]: shows what is mixed together
This tobacco blend contains leaves from Virginia and Kentucky.
For the cake, you need a blend of white and brown sugar.
- mixture
more general; can describe any combination, not necessarily carefully prepared
- combination
suggests the ingredients keep their separate identities more than in a blend
文法句型
a blend of + [things]
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' to name the ingredients that were mixed. The preposition 'of' is required when listing components.
常見錯誤
2. a new word created by joining parts of two existing words, for example 'brunch'
a new word created by joining parts of two existing words, for example 'brunch' from 'breakfast' and 'lunch'.
Nadia explained that 'smog' is a blend of 'smoke' and 'fog'.
blend of + [word A] + and + [word B]: the standard pattern for naming the source words
During English class, Ms. Chen explained that 'motel' is a blend of 'motor' and 'hotel'.
blend of + [word A] + and + [word B]: explained in a classroom setting
Taro learned that 'Brexit' is a blend of 'Britain' and 'exit'.
- portmanteau word
more formal and academic; French origin
- compound word
different — a compound keeps both full words (e.g. 'bathroom'); a blend drops parts of the source words
文法句型
[part of word A] + [part of word B] = blended word
用法筆記
Also called a 'portmanteau word'. In everyday conversation, people rarely use the term 'blend' for this concept — they just say the word itself. This sense is mostly used in language classrooms and linguistics discussions.
常見錯誤
blended — verb
1. to mix two or more substances, foods, or materials together so that they become
to mix two or more substances, foods, or materials together so that they become a single smooth combination.
Javier blended the eggs and milk together before adding the flour.
transitive: blend + [ingredient] + and + [ingredient]
Hana blended the blue paint with a little white to make a lighter shade.
The oil and vinegar do not blend well unless you add mustard.
Sofia used a hand mixer to blend the soup until it was completely smooth.
- separate
to keep things apart instead of mixing them
文法句型
blend + [ingredients]
blend [ingredient] with [ingredient]
blend together
用法筆記
When used transitively, the subject is a person or machine doing the mixing. When intransitive, the subject is the substances that are being mixed together. Common in cooking and cosmetics contexts.
常見錯誤
2. to become part of a group or place in a natural, quiet way without being noticed
to become part of a group or place in a natural, quiet way without being noticed or causing attention.
The new student quickly blended in with her classmates at lunch.
blend in with + [people]: common for social situations
Hassan wore dark clothes so he could blend into the crowd at the concert.
A good waiter knows how to blend into the background while still being helpful.
- fit in
more informal and common in everyday speech
- assimilate
more formal; often used for immigrants or newcomers adapting to a new culture
- harmonize
suggests active accord rather than quiet unnoticeability
- stand out
to be noticeable or different from others
文法句型
blend into [group/setting]
blend in with [people]
blend (in)
用法筆記
The adverb 'in' or the preposition 'into' is almost always present. Without them, readers may interpret this as verb sense 1 (mixing substances). Often carries a connotation of avoiding unwanted attention.
常見錯誤
3. to combine with something in a way that creates a pleasant, pleasing, or unified
to combine with something in a way that creates a pleasant, pleasing, or unified effect, especially of colours, sounds, or styles.
The grey curtains blend nicely with the pale blue walls in the living room.
blend with + [feature]: describes visual harmony
Pablo chose furniture that would blend well with the wooden floor.
The singer's voice blended beautifully with the piano music.
- clash
when colours or styles look unpleasant together
文法句型
blend with [something]
[things] blend (together)
blend [colours/styles]
用法筆記
Unlike sense 2 (fitting in socially), this sense is about aesthetic or sensory harmony — colours, furniture, music, flavours. Often used with the adverb 'well' or 'beautifully' to emphasise the pleasing quality.