Definition of blow
blew
play
\ˈblü\;
blown
play
\ˈblōn\;
blowing
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 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
- hear the train blow
4 a
:boast
- blowing about his accomplishments
b
:to talk windily
b
of a cetacean
:to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole
- heard a whale blow nearby
6
:to move or be carried by or as if by wind
- just blew into town for the weekend
b
:to become damaged or destroyed as a result of an electrical overload
- The fuse blew.
- A Western Massachusetts Electric Company power substation blew yesterday afternoon, cutting power for 90 minutes to more than 9,100 customers …
- —Patrick Johnson
c
of a tire
:to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture
—usually used with out
- blew out a tire
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)
- blow their horns
b
:to play (something) on a wind instrument
- blow a tune
3 a
:to spread by report
- … through the court his courtesy was blown …
- —John Dryden
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
- blow a balloon
b
:to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air
- blowing bubbles
6
of insects
:to deposit eggs or larvae on or in
- wounds blown by flies
7
:to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion
- blow the safe open
8 a
:to put out of breath with exertion
- Take care not to blow the horses.
b
:to let (an animal, such as a horse) pause to catch the breath
- paused to blow the horses
9 a
:to expend (something, such as money) extravagantly
- blew her allowance on a pair of jeans
b
:to treat with unusual expenditure
- I'll blow you to a steak.
10
:to cause (a fuse) to blow
- blew a fuse
11
:to rupture by too much pressure
- blow a seal
12 a
:botch 1
- actors blowing their 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
- an idea that's sure to blow your mind
—
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 (such as a wrongdoing) kept secret
—usually used with on
- blew the whistle on the firm's unethical practices
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