n.
Pronunciation: ' bl ō
Function: verb
Inflected Form: blew \ ' blü \ ; blown \ ' bl ō n \ ; blow · ing
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English bl ā wan; akin to Old High German bl ā en to blow, Latin flare, Greek phallos penis
Date: before 12th century
intransitive verb
1 a of air (1) : to be in motion <a breeze blew gently> (2) : to move with speed or force <the wind was blow ing > b : to move or run quickly <the linebacker blew past the tackle>
2 : to send forth a current of air or other gas <don't blow on your soup>
3 a : to make a sound by or as if by blowing b of a wind instrument : SOUND
4 a : BOAST b : to talk windily
5 a : PANT , GASP <the horse blew heavily> b of a cetacean : to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole
6 : to move or be carried by or as if by wind <just blew into town>
7 a : ERUPT , EXPLODE b of an electric fuse : to melt when overloaded ― often used with out c of a tire : to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture ― usually used with out
transitive verb
1 a : to set (gas or vapor) in motion <the fan blew hot air on us> b : to act on with a current of gas or vapor <the breeze blew my hair dry>
2 a : to play or sound on (a wind instrument) b : to play (as a note) on a wind instrument
3 a : to spread by report b past participle blowed \ ' bl ō d \ : DAMN < blow the expense>
4 a : to drive with a current of gas or vapor <the storm blew the boat off course> b : to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air < blow your nose> c : to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing < blew him a kiss>
5 a : to distend with or as if with gas b : to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air < blow ing bubbles>
6 of insects : to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
7 : to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion < blow the safe open>
8 a : to put out of breath with exertion b : to let (as a horse) pause to catch the breath
9 a : to expend (as money) extravagantly b : to treat with unusual expenditure <I'll blow you to a steak>
10 : to cause (a fuse) to blow
11 : to rupture by too much pressure < blow a seal>
12 a : BOTCH 1 < blew her lines> b : to fail to keep or hold <they blew a big lead>
13 : to leave hurriedly < blew town>
14 : to propel with great force or speed < blew a fastball by the batter>
– blow a gasket : to become enraged
– blow hot and cold : to be favorable at one moment and adverse the next
– blow off steam : to release pent-up emotions
– blow one's cool : to lose one's composure
– blow one's cover : to reveal one's real identity
– blow one's mind : to overwhelm one with wonder or bafflement
– blow one's top or blow one's stack
1 : to become violently angry
2 : to go crazy
– blow smoke : to speak idly, misleadingly, or boastfully
– blow the whistle : to call public or official attention to something (as a wrongdoing) kept secret ― usually used with on