I. intransitive verb
1. of a flame : to be extinguished by a gust (as of wind)
2. : to be driven out by the expansive force of a gas or vapor
a spark plug may blow out
3.
a. of a pneumatic tire : to rupture spontaneously in service usually at a point previously weakened or damaged
b. of an oil or gas well : to erupt out of control
4. of a storm : to dissipate by blowing
5. of an electric fuse : to melt under an excess of current
6. : to explode without doing any useful work (as of a shot in a drill hole in mining)
transitive verb
1. : to extinguish (a flame) by a gust or puff (as of air)
with one puff blew out the candle she was wishing on
2.
a. : to clear of contents by blowing : clean (as a pipeline) by a current of air
b. : to remove (as dirt or an occlusion) by the action of a current of gas or vapor
keep the pressure up until you have blown all the oil out of the line
3. : to put (a blast furnace) out of operation — opposed to blow in
4. : to walk or exercise (a horse) either to loosen his muscles for further exertion or to prevent chilling and stiffening after a hard workout
5. : to dissipate (itself) by blowing — used of storms of which wind is a marked feature
many hurricanes blow themselves out over the sea
you'll have to stay here until the blizzard blows itself out
6. : to cause (a pneumatic tire or other container) to burst because of internal pressure
blew out a tire
7. : to cause (an electric fuse) to blow out
8. : to deflect and extinguish (an arc or spark)
the magnetic field blows out an arc
II. transitive verb
1. : to defeat easily
2. : to damage severely
she blew out her right knee in the marathon