blowout

[ bloh-out ]

noun

1. a sudden bursting or rupture of an automobile tire.
2. a sudden or violent escape of air, steam, or the like.
3. a hollow formed in a region of shifting sands or light soil by the action of the wind.
4. an uncontrollable escape of oil, gas, or water from a well.
5. a service at a hair salon in which the hair is blow-dried and styled.
6. Aeronautics. flame-out.
7. Slang. a lavish party or entertainment.
8. Slang. a decisive victory or defeat.
9. blow·out sale [bloh, -out seyl] Slang. a sale featuring very large discounts.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blowout¹

First recorded in 1815–25; noun use of verb phrase blow out

Example Sentences

He scored 18 in a blowout loss to Cleveland, but the bulk of that came with the game already over.

From Los Angeles Times

This scene was reminiscent of the 31-point blowout in Arizona earlier this season.

From Los Angeles Times

The opinion polls had Kamala Harris and Donald Trump essentially tied for months with the margin of error showing that either side could have had a blowout.

From Salon

“Maybe at the end of the week, we know what the answer is. Unless it’s a blowout.”

From Los Angeles Times

The latest crisis at Boeing erupted in January with a dramatic mid-air blowout of a piece of one of its passenger planes.

From BBC

Related Words

• eruption
• rupture