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point-blank definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion; "blunt talking and straight shooting"; "a blunt New England farmer"; "I gave them my candid opinion"; "forthright criticism"; "a forthright approach to the problem"; "tell me what you think--and you may just as well be frank"; "it is possible to be outspoken without being rude"; "plainspoken and to the point"; "a point-blank accusation" [syn: blunt, candid, forthright, frank, free-spoken, outspoken, plainspoken, point-blank, straight- from-the-shoulder]
2: close enough to go straight to the target; "point-blank range"; "a point-blank shot" adv
1: in a direct and unequivocal manner; "I asked him point- blank whether he wanted the job"

Merriam Webster's

adjective Date: 1591 1. a. marked by no appreciable drop below initial horizontal line of flight b. so close to a target that a missile fired will travel in a straight line to the mark 2. direct, blunt <a point-blank refusal> • point-blank adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. & adv. --adj. 1 a (of a shot) aimed or fired horizontally at a range very close to the target. b (of a distance or range) very close. 2 (of a remark, question, etc.) blunt, direct. --adv. 1 at very close range. 2 directly, bluntly. Etymology: prob. f. POINT + BLANK = white spot in the centre of a target

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Point-blank Point`-blank", adv. In a point-blank manner. To sin point-blank against God's word. --Fuller.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Point-blank Point`-blank", n. [F. point point + blanc white.] 1. The white spot on a target, at which an arrow or other missile is aimed. [Obs.] --Jonson. 2. (Mil.) (a) With all small arms, the second point in which the natural line of sight, when horizontal, cuts the trajectory. (b) With artillery, the point where the projectile first strikes the horizontal plane on which the gun stands, the axis of the piece being horizontal.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Point-blank Point`-blank", a. 1. Directed in a line toward the object aimed at; aimed directly toward the mark. 2. Hence, direct; plain; unqualified; -- said of language; as, a point-blank assertion. Point-blank range, the extent of the apparent right line of a ball discharged. Point-blank shot, the shot of a gun pointed directly toward the object to be hit.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If you say something point-blank, you say it very directly or rudely, without explaining or apologizing. The army apparently refused point blank to do what was required of them... ADV: ADV after v • Point-blank is also an adjective. ...a point-blank refusal. ADJ: ADJ n 2. If someone or something is shot point-blank, they are shot when the gun is touching them or extremely close to them. He fired point-blank at Bernadette. ADV: ADV after v • Point-blank is also an adjective. He had been shot at point-blank range in the back of the head. ADJ: ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Direct, plain, explicit, express, down-right. 2. Direct. II. ad. Directly.

Moby Thesaurus

abrupt, abruptly, blunt, bluntly, candidly, categorical, categorically, close, direct, directly, downright, explicit, explicitly, flat, flatly, frankly, nearby, openly, outright, plainly, right away, short, straight, straightforward, to the point, unalloyed, uncompromising, uncompromisingly, unmitigated, unreserved, unreservedly