Main Entry:

¹blow

Pronunciation:

\ˈblō\

Function:

verb

Inflected Form(s):

blew \ˈblü\ ; blown \ˈblōn\ ; blow·ing

Etymology:

Middle English, from Old English blāwan; akin to Old High German blāen to blow, Latin flare, Greek phallos penis

Date:

before 12th century

intransitive verb1 aof air (1): to be in motion <a breeze blew gently> (2): to move with speed or force <the wind was blowing> 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 bof a wind instrument : sound4 a: boast b: to talk windily5 a: pant, gasp <the horse blew heavily> bof a cetacean : to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole6: to move or be carried by or as if by wind <just blew into town>7 a: erupt, explode bof an electric fuse : to melt when overloaded —often used with out cof a tire : to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture —usually used with outtransitive verb1 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 instrument3 a: to spread by report bpast participle blowed \ˈblōd\ : 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 <blowing bubbles>6of insects : to deposit eggs or larvae on or in7: 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 breath9 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 blow11: 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 angry2: 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