blast

¹

[ blast ]

noun

1. a sudden and violent gust of wind:

   Wintry blasts chilled us to the marrow.

   Synonyms: storm, gale, blow, squall

2. the blowing of a trumpet, whistle, etc.:

   One blast of the siren was enough to clear the street.

   Synonyms: screech, blare

3. a loud, sudden sound or noise:

   The radio let out an awful blast before I could turn it off.

4. a forcible stream of air from the mouth, bellows, or the like.
5. Machinery.
   1. air forced into a furnace by a blower to increase the rate of combustion.
   2. a jet of steam directed up a smokestack, as of a steam locomotive, to increase draft.
   3. a draft thus increased.
6. a forceful or explosive throw, hit, etc.:

   a blast down the third-base line.

7. Slang.
   1. a party or riotously good time:

      Did we have a blast last night!

   2. something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment; thrill; treat:

      Duck hunting in Australia is a real blast!

8. a vigorous outburst of criticism; attack.
9. an electronic message sent simultaneously to a large number of people: e-blast advertising;

   an email blast;

   e-blast advertising;

   an SMS text blast.

10. blast wave.
11. Mining, Civil Engineering. the charge of dynamite or other explosive used at one firing in blasting operations.
12. the act of exploding; explosion:

    Some say the blast was in the next county.

    Synonyms: outburst, detonation

13. any pernicious or destructive influence, especially on animals or plants; a blight.
14. the sudden death of buds, flowers, or young fruit.

verb (used with object)

1. to play loudly or make a loud noise on:

   to blast rock music;

   to blast a horn.

2. to cause to shrivel or wither; blight.
3. to affect with any harmful influence; ruin; wreck:

   Failure in the exam blasted her hopes for college.

   It was an indiscretion that blasted his good reputation.

   Synonyms: demolish

4. to shatter, break up, or dislodge by or as if by an explosion:

   Their explosives were inadequate to blast the granite.

5. to make, form, open up, etc., by blasting:

   to blast a tunnel through a mountain.

6. to show to be false, unreliable, etc.; discredit:

   His facts soundly blasted the new evidence.

7. Informal. to curse; damn (usually followed by it or an object):

   Blast it, there's the phone again!

   Blast the time, we've got to finish this work.

8. to censure or criticize vigorously; denounce:

   In his campaign speech he really blasts the other party.

9. to hit or propel with great force: They were blasted into outer space.

   He blasted a homer that tied the game.

   They were blasted into outer space.

10. to shoot:

    The terrorists blasted him down.

verb (used without object)

1. to produce a loud, blaring sound: His voice blasted until the microphone was turned down.

   The trumpets blasted as the overture began.

   His voice blasted until the microphone was turned down.

2. to shoot:

   He whipped out his revolver and started blasting.

3. Slang. to take narcotics.

verb phrase

1. 1. (of a rocket) to leave a launch pad under its own power.
   2. (of an astronaut) to travel aloft in a rocket.

-blast

²

1. a combining form meaning “bud, sprout,” “embryo,” “formative cells or cell layer,” used in the formation of compound words:

   ectoblast.

blast

¹

/ blɑːst /

noun

1. an explosion, as of dynamite
2. 1. the rapid movement of air away from the centre of an explosion, combustion of rocket fuel, etc
   2. a wave of overpressure caused by an explosion; shock wave
3. the charge of explosive used in a single explosion
4. a sudden strong gust of wind or air
5. a sudden loud sound, as of a trumpet
6. a violent verbal outburst, as of criticism
7. a forcible jet or stream of air, esp one used to intensify the heating effect of a furnace, increase the draught in a steam engine, or break up coal at a coalface
8. any of several diseases of plants and animals, esp one producing withering in plants
9. slang.
   a very enjoyable or thrilling experience

   the party was a blast

10. full blast or at full blast
    at maximum speed, volume, etc

interjection

1. slang.
   an exclamation of annoyance (esp in phrases such as blast it! and blast him! )

verb

1. to destroy or blow up with explosives, shells, etc
2. to make or cause to make a loud harsh noise
3. tr to remove, open, etc, by an explosion

   to blast a hole in a wall

4. tr to ruin; shatter

   the rain blasted our plans for a picnic

5. to wither or cause to wither; blight or be blighted
6. to criticize severely
7. to shoot or shoot at

   he blasted the hat off her head

   he blasted away at the trees

-blast

²

combining form

1. (in biology) indicating an embryonic cell or formative layer

   mesoblast

Derived Forms

• ˈblaster, noun

Other Words From

• blast·er noun
• blast·y adjective
• blast·i·er adjective
• blast·i·est adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of blast¹

First recorded before 1000; 1955–60 blast fordef 7a; Middle English (noun and verb); Old English blǣst (noun) “a blowing”; akin to Old Norse blāstr, Old High German blāst; blow ²

Origin of blast²

< Greek, combining form of blastós a bud, sprout

Word History and Origins

Origin of blast¹

Old English blǣst , related to Old Norse blāstr

Origin of blast²

from Greek blastos bud

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. at full blast, at maximum capacity; at or with full volume or speed: Also full blast.

   The factory is going at full blast.

More idioms and phrases containing blast

In addition to the idiom beginning with blast , also see full blast .

Synonym Study

See wind ¹.

Related Words

• burst
• crash
• detonation
• eruption
• explosion
• outbreak
• outburst
• volley