blast wave

American

noun

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.

Etymology

Origin of blast wave

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Another idea suggests the brightness spikes occur when the blast wave from the explosion slams into dense shells of gas surrounding the star.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2025

“I felt the blast wave on my cheeks, and it knocked off my hat.”

From New York Times • Dec. 16, 2022

Walls and windows of a neighbouring 14-storey apartment block were damaged by the blast wave.

From Reuters • Jul. 2, 2022

Striking the Earth’s atmosphere, a modest cometary fragment would produce a great radiant fireball and a mighty blast wave, which would burn trees, level forests and be heard around the world.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023