You searched for: “bleak
bleak, blink
bleak (BLEEK) (adjective)
1. Gloomy and somber: The future looks bleak for many people.
2. Providing no encouragement; depressing: Many countries are obviously in a bleak global-economic situation.
3. Exposed to the elements; unsheltered and barren: The bleak weather is cold, rainy, and dark.

Josephine could see the bleak, treeless regions of the high mountains behind her.

blink (BLINGK) (verb)
1. To close and to open one or both of the eyes rapidly: Floyd had to blink his eyes when the bright light shined on his face.
2. To waver or back down, as in a contest of wills: During the international meeting, the U.S. was expected to be one of the counties that would blink and agree to remove the missiles.

It was a bleak and dreary day when Mike and Rita went hiking. The wind was so cold that it made both of them blink their eyes.

Word Entries at Get Words: “bleak
bleak (adjective); bleaker, more bleak; bleakest, most bleak
1. Descriptive of a situation in which there is no reason to feel happy or hopeful: For some countries, there is a bleak likelihood that economic conditions will improve.
2. Regarding something which conveys no encouragement and is depressing:: There was a bleak prospect that Jane would accept Richard's proposal of marriage.
3. Characterizing the weather as being very cold and miserable: A bleak wind was blowing from the north causing a freezing condition in the area.
A cold and piercing situation or without hope for anything better.
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This entry is located in the following unit: English Words in Action, Group B (page 6)