Definition of blow
blew
play
\ˈblü\;
blown
play
\ˈblōn\;
blowing
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
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.
c
: to lose or miss (an opportunity) because of mistakes or poor judgment
- blow a chance to make a good impression
13
: to leave hurriedly
- blew town
14
: to propel with great force or speed
- blew a fastball by the batter
15
US, informal
: to drive or speed through or past (a traffic signal or stop sign) without stopping
- He blew several red lights and stop signs before smashing into a pole and a fence, cops said.
- —Jessica Simeone et al.
—
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
