blind spot

See also: blindspot

English

Alternative forms

• blindspot

Etymology

From blind +‎ spot.

Noun

blind spot (plural blind spots)

1. The place where the optic nerve attaches to the retina, and so where the retina cannot detect light; the portion of the visual field that corresponds to this site.

   Synonyms: optic disc, optic disk

   We all have a blind spot in our vision, but our brains usually compensate for it, such that we usually don't consciously notice it.

2. Any portion of the visual field in which the vision is impaired (by ocular disease).

   He has a few blind spots in his eyesight because of his diabetic retinopathy.

3. (automotive) In driving, the part of the road that cannot be seen in the rear-view mirror or side-view mirror.

   Synonym: blindside

   When he changed lanes, he sideswiped a car that was in his blind spot.

   • UN Regulation No 151 – Uniform provisions concerning the approval of motor vehicles with regard to the Blind Spot Information System for the Detection of Bicycles:

     ‘Blind Spot Information System (BSIS)’ means a system to inform the driver of a possible collision with a bicycle near side.

   • 2023 August 24, Keith Barry, “SUV and Truck Buyers May Pay Thousands More for Life-Saving Feature, CR Study Shows” in Consumer Reports:

     As its name suggests, BSW can detect traffic in a vehicle’s side blind spots and alert a driver to its presence. […] Taller and heavier vehicles tend to have larger side and rear blind spots, and generally pose a greater risk to those outside of them when compared to smaller vehicles.

4. (rail transport) The part of the railway/tramway track that cannot be seen in the side mirror or the side window.

   Synonym: blindside

   When he changed tracks, he sideswiped a railway worker that was in his blind spot.

5. In a stadium or auditorium, any location affording those seated or standing there only an obstructed visual or auditory experience.

   Our seats turned out to be in a blind spot behind a pillar blocking our view on the stage.

6. (figuratively) An inability to recognize a fact or think clearly about a certain topic, especially because of a prejudice.

   He loves her so much that he has a blind spot when it comes to her faults.

   • 2021 November 12, Dan Shive, El Goonish Shive (webcomic), Comic for Friday, Nov 12, 2021:

     "It's possible he has a blind spot I am unaware of, but I would be astonished if your father's attitude came from a place of bigotry. Where I can easily see it coming from is ignorance, confusion... and being your father."

   • 2022 June 17, Michelle Goldberg, “The Future Isn’t Female Anymore”, in The New York Times‎^[1]:

     Obviously, the second-wave feminism of the ’60s and ’70s could be pretty factional as well; there were vicious internal fights over issues like lesbianism and pornography, as well as over white feminists’ blind spots about race.

7. (figuratively) A subject or area about which one is uninformed or misinformed, often because of a prejudice or lack of appreciation.

   The new study addresses the blind spot created by previous research having excluded healthy adult subjects.

8. (telecommunications) A location where radio reception and/or transmission is significantly poorer than in surrounding locations.

   Synonym: dead spot

9. (seismology) A location around an earthquake epicentre that is prone to earthquake.

   Synonyms: blind zone, dead spot

10. (architecture) The flaw of building that cannot be seen when collapsing because poor structure, built not according specified standards, or not earthquake-proof.

    Synonym: dead spot

Translations

place where the optic nerve attaches to the retina

• Bengali: অন্ধবিন্দু (bn) (ondhobindu)
• Breton: poent dall m, brizhenn dall f
• Catalan: punt cec m
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 盲點 / 盲点 (zh) (mángdiǎn)

• Czech: slepá skvrna f
• Finnish: sokea piste
• French: point aveugle (fr) m, tache aveugle (fr) f
• German: blinder Fleck m
• Hungarian: vakfolt (hu)
• Irish: caochspota m
• Japanese: 盲点 (ja) (もうてん, mōten)
• Korean: 맹점(盲點) (ko) (maengjeom)
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: xala kor f

• Malay: titik buta
• Polish: plamka ślepa (pl) f, plamka Mariotte'a f
• Portuguese: ponto cego m
• Russian: слепо́е пятно́ n (slepóje pjatnó)
• Scottish Gaelic: spot dall m
• Spanish: punto ciego (es) m, papila optica f, mancha ciega f
• Vietnamese: điểm mù
• Welsh: dallbwynt m

part of the road/railway track/tramway track that cannot be seen

• Arabic: زاوِية مَيِّتة f (zāwiya(t) mayyita), بُقْعة عَمْياء f (buqʕa(t) ʕamyāʔ)

  Gulf Arabic: زاوية ميتة f (zāwya mayta)

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 盲點 / 盲点 (zh) (mángdiǎn), 死角 (zh) (sǐjiǎo)

• Dutch: dode hoek (nl) m, blinde hoek m
• Finnish: kuollut kulma
• French: angle mort (fr) m
• German: toter Winkel (de) m
• Hungarian: holttér (hu)
• Italian: punto cieco m, angolo morto m
• Japanese: 盲点 (ja) (もうてん, mōten)
• Malay: titik buta
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: dødvinkel (no) m, blindsone m

• Polish: martwe pole (pl) n
• Portuguese: ponto cego m
• Russian: слепа́я зо́на f (slepája zóna)
• Scottish Gaelic: spot dall m
• Spanish: punto ciego (es) m, ángulo muerto m
• Swedish: död vinkel (sv) c

location with obstructed audience experience

inability to recognize a fact or think clearly

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 盲點 / 盲点 (zh) (mángdiǎn)

• Finnish: sokea piste
• French: aveuglement (fr) m
• German: Blindheit (de) f

subject beyond one’s certain knowledge

• French: inconnu (fr) m

location with poor radio service

• Finnish: katve (fi)
• French: zone blanche (fr) f
• German: Funkloch (de) n

References

• "blind spot" in the Dictionary.com Unabridged, v1.0.1, Lexico Publishing Group, 2006.