blood·let·ting

blood·let·ting
/ˈblʌdˌlɛtıŋ/ noun, pl -tings
1 [noncount]
1 a : the former practice of taking some blood out of the bodies of sick people to heal them
1 b : the practice of causing someone to bleed as part of a religious ceremony

They practiced ritual bloodletting.

2 [noncount] : the killing of people

They prayed for an end to the bloodletting. [=(more commonly) bloodshed]

3 : the act of reducing the number of workers in a company
[noncount]

We survived last year's bloodletting. [=we were able to keep our jobs]

[count]

a corporate bloodletting


Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

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  • bloodletting — blood•let•ting [[t]ˈblʌdˌlɛt ɪŋ[/t]] n. 1) srg the act of letting blood by opening a vein; phlebotomy 2) bloodshed 3) cvb inf severe reduction, as in personnel or appropriations • Etymology: 1175–1225 blood′let ter, n …   From formal English to slang

  • bloodletting — blood|let|ting [ˈblʌdˌletıŋ] n [U] 1.) killing people = ↑bloodshed ▪ The movie contains scenes of violence and bloodletting. 2.) a medical treatment used in the past which involved removing some of a person s blood 3.) a reduction in the number… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • bloodletting — blood|let|ting [ blʌd,letıŋ ] noun 1. ) uncount a situation in which many people are killed and injured in fighting 2. ) singular or uncount a situation in which someone in an organization or company is criticized or forced to leave their job in… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • bloodletting — Removing blood, usually from a vein; formerly used as a general remedial measure, but used now in congestive heart failure and polycythemia. See phlebotomy. general b. removing blood by arteriotomy or …   Medical dictionary

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  • Bloodletting — Blood let ting, n. (Med.) The act or process of letting blood or bleeding, as by opening a vein or artery, or by cupping or leeches; esp. applied to venesection. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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