blast wave

American  

noun

1. a violent propagating disturbance, produced by an explosion in air, that consists of an abrupt rise in pressure followed by a drop in pressure to or below atmospheric pressure.

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Etymology

Origin of blast wave

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

A blast wave is said to have damaged a plastered cornice on the eastern façade but not affected the interior.

From BBC

The blast wave nevertheless tossed all of his stock into a jumble of shower handles and hoses, boxes of masking tape and home repair tools — all covered in fine, metallic-gray dust.

From Los Angeles Times

He felt the jolts as the blast waves shook the windows.

From Los Angeles Times

The military measures the force of blast waves in pounds of pressure per square inch, and the current safety guidelines say that anything below 4 PSI is safe for the brain.

From New York Times

Their blast waves and expanding cloud of debris may persist for more than 50,000 years.

From Science Daily