Blotter

/ˈblɑːtər/
noun

A piece of thick, absorbent paper for soaking up ink.

He used the blotter to soak up the excess ink from the parchment.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A piece of thick, absorbent paper for soaking up ink.

Often appears as...

  • ink blotter
  • desk blotter
noun

A book in which transactions or events are recorded as they occur.

All sales are recorded in the sales blotter.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A book in which transactions or events are recorded as they occur.

Often appears as...

  • sales blotter
  • police blotter

Usage tips

Technical

noun

A daily record of arrests at a police station.

The suspect's name was listed on the police blotter.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A daily record of arrests at a police station.

Often appears as...

  • police blotter
  • crime blotter

Usage tips

Technical

noun

A piece of thick, absorbent paper for soaking up ink.

He used the blotter to soak up the excess ink from the parchment.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A piece of thick, absorbent paper for soaking up ink.

Often appears as...

  • ink blotter
  • desk blotter
noun

A book in which transactions or events are recorded as they occur.

All sales are recorded in the sales blotter.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A book in which transactions or events are recorded as they occur.

Often appears as...

  • sales blotter
  • police blotter

Usage tips

Technical

noun

A daily record of arrests at a police station.

The suspect's name was listed on the police blotter.
Visual representation of "blotter" - A daily record of arrests at a police station.

Often appears as...

  • police blotter
  • crime blotter

Usage tips

Technical

Definition 1 of 3
Visual representation of "blotter"
LampPro Tip 1/3

Old-Fashioned

The use as absorbent paper is rare today, but seen in historical contexts.

Illustration for Old-Fashioned
The clerk pressed a blotter onto the wet document in the period film.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Desk Accessory

In antique or traditional desk settings, blotters are often found as part of the set.

Illustration for Desk Accessory
Her grandmother's desk displayed an ornate ink blotter.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Stationery

Remember, a blotter is for absorbing excess ink; it's not plain stationery.

Illustration for Not Stationery
Confused, the student grabbed a blotter instead of a sheet of writing paper.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Old-Fashioned

The use as absorbent paper is rare today, but seen in historical contexts.

Illustration for Old-Fashioned
The clerk pressed a blotter onto the wet document in the period film.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Desk Accessory

In antique or traditional desk settings, blotters are often found as part of the set.

Illustration for Desk Accessory
Her grandmother's desk displayed an ornate ink blotter.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Stationery

Remember, a blotter is for absorbing excess ink; it's not plain stationery.

Illustration for Not Stationery
Confused, the student grabbed a blotter instead of a sheet of writing paper.
LampPro Tip 1/3

Old-Fashioned

The use as absorbent paper is rare today, but seen in historical contexts.

Illustration for Old-Fashioned
The clerk pressed a blotter onto the wet document in the period film.
LampPro Tip 2/3

Desk Accessory

In antique or traditional desk settings, blotters are often found as part of the set.

Illustration for Desk Accessory
Her grandmother's desk displayed an ornate ink blotter.
LampPro Tip 3/3

Not Stationery

Remember, a blotter is for absorbing excess ink; it's not plain stationery.

Illustration for Not Stationery
Confused, the student grabbed a blotter instead of a sheet of writing paper.
Visual representation of the word "Blotter"

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Video examples

Underground LSD Lab PIPE...

a tedious process but when chemists realized their jail sentences could hinge on the weight of their doses they came up with a lighter method of distribution blotter paper averaging

Video examples

Underground LSD Lab PIPE...

a tedious process but when chemists realized their jail sentences could hinge on the weight of their doses they came up with a lighter method of distribution blotter paper averaging

Example 1 of 1

Quote examples

Melvyn Bragg

English Journalist

Work is a great blotter up. It stops you thinking, which is useful. No, it stops you feeling.
Portrait of Melvyn Bragg

Quote examples

Rachel Zoe

American Designer

I always carry a Tom Ford lipstick and Tachta face blotters to get me through the day.
Portrait of Rachel Zoe

Quote examples

Kathryn Harrison

American Author

I'm not an investigative journalist; I don't track crime or police blotters.
Portrait of Kathryn Harrison

Quote examples

Melvyn Bragg

English Journalist

Work is a great blotter up. It stops you thinking, which is useful. No, it stops you feeling.
Portrait of Melvyn Bragg

Quote examples

Rachel Zoe

American Designer

I always carry a Tom Ford lipstick and Tachta face blotters to get me through the day.
Portrait of Rachel Zoe

Quote examples

Kathryn Harrison

American Author

I'm not an investigative journalist; I don't track crime or police blotters.
Portrait of Kathryn Harrison
Example 1 of 3
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