blast
1 Americannoun
-
a sudden and violent gust of wind.
Wintry blasts chilled us to the marrow.
-
the blowing of a trumpet, whistle, etc..
One blast of the siren was enough to clear the street.
-
a loud, sudden sound or noise.
The radio let out an awful blast before I could turn it off.
-
a forcible stream of air from the mouth, bellows, or the like.
-
Machinery.
-
air forced into a furnace by a blower to increase the rate of combustion.
-
a jet of steam directed up a smokestack, as of a steam locomotive, to increase draft.
-
a draft thus increased.
-
-
a forceful or explosive throw, hit, etc..
a blast down the third-base line.
-
Slang.
-
a vigorous outburst of criticism; attack.
-
an electronic message sent simultaneously to a large number of people: e-blast advertising;
an email blast;
e-blast advertising;
an SMS text blast.
-
Mining, Civil Engineering. the charge of dynamite or other explosive used at one firing in blasting operations.
-
the act of exploding; explosion.
Some say the blast was in the next county.
- Synonyms:
- outburst, detonation
-
any pernicious or destructive influence, especially on animals or plants; a blight.
-
the sudden death of buds, flowers, or young fruit.
verb (used with object)
-
to play loudly or make a loud noise on.
to blast rock music;
to blast a horn.
-
to cause to shrivel or wither; blight.
-
to affect with any harmful influence; ruin; wreck.
Failure in the exam blasted her hopes for college.
It was an indiscretion that blasted his good reputation.
- Synonyms:
- demolish
-
to shatter, break up, or dislodge by or as if by an explosion.
Their explosives were inadequate to blast the granite.
-
to make, form, open up, etc., by blasting.
to blast a tunnel through a mountain.
-
to show to be false, unreliable, etc.; discredit.
His facts soundly blasted the new evidence.
-
Informal. to curse; damn (usually followed by it or an object).
Blast it, there's the phone again!
Blast the time, we've got to finish this work.
-
to censure or criticize vigorously; denounce.
In his campaign speech he really blasts the other party.
-
to hit or propel with great force: They were blasted into outer space.
He blasted a homer that tied the game.
They were blasted into outer space.
-
to shoot.
The terrorists blasted him down.
verb (used without object)
-
to produce a loud, blaring sound: His voice blasted until the microphone was turned down.
The trumpets blasted as the overture began.
His voice blasted until the microphone was turned down.
-
to shoot.
He whipped out his revolver and started blasting.
-
Slang. to take narcotics.
verb phrase
idioms
noun
-
an explosion, as of dynamite
-
-
the rapid movement of air away from the centre of an explosion, combustion of rocket fuel, etc
-
a wave of overpressure caused by an explosion; shock wave
-
-
the charge of explosive used in a single explosion
-
a sudden strong gust of wind or air
-
a sudden loud sound, as of a trumpet
-
a violent verbal outburst, as of criticism
-
a forcible jet or stream of air, esp one used to intensify the heating effect of a furnace, increase the draught in a steam engine, or break up coal at a coalface
-
any of several diseases of plants and animals, esp one producing withering in plants
-
slang a very enjoyable or thrilling experience
the party was a blast
-
at maximum speed, volume, etc
interjection
verb
-
to destroy or blow up with explosives, shells, etc
-
to make or cause to make a loud harsh noise
-
(tr) to remove, open, etc, by an explosion
to blast a hole in a wall
-
(tr) to ruin; shatter
the rain blasted our plans for a picnic
-
to wither or cause to wither; blight or be blighted
-
to criticize severely
-
to shoot or shoot at
he blasted the hat off her head
he blasted away at the trees
combining form
Usage
What does blast mean? A blast is a loud, sudden noise, as in The blast of the fire alarm woke Kehinde out of a deep sleep.Blasts are typically associated with the sound and force behind them, and often this force will be caused by a gust of wind or heat that is emanating from some type of explosion or machine.To blast is to make a loud, sudden noise, as when you blow into a trumpet.To blast is also to destroy or break up, as in The engineers blasted the rock in the side of the mountain to create a tunnel.Figuratively, a blast is a strong verbal attack or criticism. To blast someone is to criticize them in this way, as in Jada’s parents blasted her for staying out all night, and now she’s grounded for a month.A blast is also a really fun party or thrill, as in Luis was surprised at what a blast he had at rock climbing.Example: I heard a loud blast from the neighboring field and went over to see what happened.
Related Words
See wind 1.
Other Word Forms
- blaster noun
- blastier adjective
- blastiest adjective
- blasty adjective
Etymology
Origin of blast1
First recorded before 1000; 1955–60 blast for def. 7a; Middle English (noun and verb); Old English blǣst (noun) “a blowing”; akin to Old Norse blāstr, Old High German blāst; blow 2
Origin of -blast2
< Greek, combining form of blastós a bud, sprout
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.
While promoting her new movie, “Die My Love,” actor Jennifer Lawrence said she parents her young child while an AirPod blasts murder podcasts into one of her ears.
From Los Angeles Times
Music was blasting from a speaker under the low trees where a troop of elderly ladies were choreographing a fan dance routine.
From BBC
It’s the coal playbook, but this time the blast pattern is invisible.
From Salon
“We drive these cars hard, and we have an absolute blast,” Bloch said.
Police officials have been deployed to markets, worship centres and other public places in the wake of the blast.
From Barron's
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
