blown-up

[ blohn-uhp ]

adjective

1. (of a picture, photograph, image, etc.) enlarged.
2. damaged or destroyed by demolition, explosion, etc.:

   blown-up bridges.

3. (of a ball, balloon, etc.) inflated.
4. overexpanded; unduly large:

   a blown-up sense of importance.

Word History and Origins

Origin of blown-up¹

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Longnecker’s bedroom is decorated with blown-up photos of Miles, and its walls are covered with his ribbons, alongside her equestrian prizes.

From Seattle Times

Large canvases by Celaya include blown-up snippets from his childhood notebook, surrounded by interpretations of waves and seascapes.

From New York Times

KYIV, Ukraine — Soldiers fight in freezing, muddy trenches bombarded by artillery, or in warrens of burned and blown-up houses in urban combat.

From Seattle Times

Soldiers fight in freezing, muddy trenches bombarded by artillery, or in warrens of burned and blown-up houses in urban combat.

From New York Times

There’s no blown-up spiders, even though my wife tries to bring that stuff home.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• expanded
• extended
• inflated
• intensified
• magnified
• swollen