Library / English Dictionary

    BLOW

    Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

    Irregular inflected forms: blew  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation, blown  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

     I. (noun) 

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Forceful exhalation through the nose or mouthplay

    Example:

    he blew out all the candles with a single puff

    Synonyms:

    blow; puff

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    breathing out; exhalation; expiration (the act of expelling air from the lungs)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    insufflation (an act of blowing or breathing on or into something)

    Derivation:

    blow (exhale hard)

    blow (free of obstruction by blowing air through)

    blow (shape by blowing)

    blow (spout moist air from the blowhole)

    blow (make a sound as if blown)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    A powerful stroke with the fist or a weaponplay

    Example:

    a blow on the head

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting acts or actions

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    stroke (a single complete movement)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    shot (a blow hard enough to cause injury)

    hammer; hammering; pound; pounding (the act of pounding (delivering repeated heavy blows))

    uppercut (a swinging blow directed upward (especially at an opponent's chin))

    thump (a heavy blow with the hand)

    stinger (a sharp stinging blow)

    knife thrust; stab; thrust (a strong blow with a knife or other sharp pointed instrument)

    swing (a sweeping blow or stroke)

    counterblow (a return blow; a retaliatory blow)

    wallop (a severe blow)

    boot; kick; kicking (the act of delivering a blow with the foot)

    box (a blow with the hand (usually on the ear))

    biff; clout; lick; poke; punch; slug ((boxing) a blow with the fist)

    lash; whip; whiplash (a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object)

    swat (a sharp blow)

    kayo; knockout; KO (a blow that renders the opponent unconscious)

    knockdown (a blow that knocks the opponent off his feet)

    smacker (a very powerful blow with the fist)

    slap; smack; smacking (the act of smacking something; a blow delivered with an open hand)

    thwack (a hard blow with a flat object)

    belt; knock; rap; whack; whang (the act of hitting vigorously)

    clip (a sharp slanting blow)

    backhander (a backhanded blow)

    Holonyms ("blow" is a part of...):

    combat; fight; fighting; scrap (the act of fighting; any contest or struggle)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Street names for cocaineplay

    Synonyms:

    blow; C; coke; nose candy; snow

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting man-made objects

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    cocain; cocaine (a narcotic (alkaloid) extracted from coca leaves; used as a surface anesthetic or taken for pleasure; can become powerfully addictive)

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    An unpleasant or disappointing surpriseplay

    Example:

    it came as a shock to learn that he was injured

    Synonyms:

    blow; shock

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural events

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    surprise (a sudden unexpected event)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    blip (a sudden minor shock or meaningless interruption)

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    An impact (as from a collision)play

    Example:

    the bump threw him off the bicycle

    Synonyms:

    blow; bump

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural events

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    impact (the striking of one body against another)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    slap; smack (a blow from a flat object (as an open hand))

    sideswipe (a glancing blow from or on the side of something (especially motor vehicles))

    buffeting; pounding (repeated heavy blows)

    bang; bash; belt; knock; smash (a vigorous blow)

    rap; strike; tap (a gentle blow)

    concussion (any violent blow)

    jar; jolt; jounce; shock (a sudden jarring impact)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    An unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustratingplay

    Synonyms:

    black eye; blow; reversal; reverse; setback

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural events

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    whammy (a serious or devastating setback)

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    A strong current of airplay

    Example:

    the tree was bent almost double by the gust

    Synonyms:

    blast; blow; gust

    Classified under:

    Nouns denoting natural phenomena

    Hypernyms ("blow" is a kind of...):

    air current; current of air; wind (air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure)

    Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "blow"):

    bluster (a violent gusty wind)

    sandblast (a blast of wind laden with sand)

    puff; puff of air; whiff (a short light gust of air)

    Derivation:

    blow (be in motion due to some air or water current)

    blow (cause to move by means of an air current)

    blow (be blowing or storming)

    blowy (abounding in or exposed to the wind or breezes)

     II. (verb) 

    Verb forms

    Present simple: I / you / we / they blow  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation ... he / she / it blows  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past simple: blew  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Past participle: blown  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    -ing form: blowing  Listen to US pronunciation  Listen to GB pronunciation

    Sense 1

    Meaning:

    Exhale hardplay

    Example:

    blow on the soup to cool it down

    Classified under:

    Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    breathe out; exhale; expire (expel air)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    gasp; heave; pant; puff (breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted)

    chuff; huff; puff (blow hard and loudly)

    insufflate (blow or breathe hard on or into)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s

    Derivation:

    blow (forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth)

    Sense 2

    Meaning:

    Free of obstruction by blowing air throughplay

    Example:

    blow one's nose

    Classified under:

    Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    discharge; eject; exhaust; expel; release (eliminate (a substance))

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s

    Derivation:

    blow (forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth)

    Sense 3

    Meaning:

    Burst suddenlyplay

    Example:

    We blew a tire

    Classified under:

    Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    break open; burst; split (come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 4

    Meaning:

    Melt, break, or become otherwise unusableplay

    Example:

    The fuse blew

    Synonyms:

    blow; blow out; burn out

    Classified under:

    Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    break; break down; conk out; die; fail; give out; give way; go; go bad (stop operating or functioning)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Sense 5

    Meaning:

    Shape by blowingplay

    Example:

    Blow a glass vase

    Classified under:

    Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    form; shape (give shape or form to)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Derivation:

    blowing (processing that involves blowing a gas)

    blow (forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth)

    Sense 6

    Meaning:

    Allow to regain its breathplay

    Example:

    blow a horse

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    rest (give a rest to)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 7

    Meaning:

    Show offplay

    Synonyms:

    blow; bluster; boast; brag; gas; gasconade; shoot a line; swash; tout; vaunt

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    amplify; exaggerate; hyperbolise; hyperbolize; magnify; overdraw; overstate (to enlarge beyond bounds or the truth)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    crow; gloat; triumph (dwell on with satisfaction)

    puff (speak in a blustering or scornful manner)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s PP
    Somebody ----s that CLAUSE
    Somebody ----s to somebody

    Sense 8

    Meaning:

    Cause to be revealed and jeopardizedplay

    Example:

    The double agent was blown by the other side

    Classified under:

    Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    break; bring out; disclose; discover; divulge; expose; give away; let on; let out; reveal; uncover; unwrap (make known to the public information that was previously known only to a few people or that was meant to be kept a secret)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 9

    Meaning:

    Lay eggsplay

    Example:

    certain insects are said to blow

    Classified under:

    Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    lay; put down; repose (put in a horizontal position)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Sense 10

    Meaning:

    Leave; informal or rudeplay

    Example:

    let's blow this place

    Synonyms:

    blow; shove along; shove off

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    depart; go; go away (move away from a place into another direction)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s

    Sense 11

    Meaning:

    Be in motion due to some air or water currentplay

    Example:

    the shipwrecked boat drifted away from the shore

    Synonyms:

    be adrift; blow; drift; float

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    go; locomote; move; travel (change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically)

    Verb group:

    float (move lightly, as if suspended)

    drift (cause to be carried by a current)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    waft (be driven or carried along, as by the air)

    tide (be carried with the tide)

    stream (to extend, wave or float outward, as if in the wind)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    Something is ----ing PP

    Derivation:

    blow (a strong current of air)

    Sense 12

    Meaning:

    Spout moist air from the blowholeplay

    Example:

    The whales blew

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    gush; spirt; spout; spurt (gush forth in a sudden stream or jet)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Derivation:

    blow (forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth)

    Sense 13

    Meaning:

    Cause to move by means of an air currentplay

    Example:

    The wind blew the leaves around in the yard

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    whiff (drive or carry as if by a puff of air)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Something ----s something

    Derivation:

    blow (a strong current of air)

    blower (a device that produces a current of air)

    blower (a fan run by an electric motor)

    Sense 14

    Meaning:

    Cause air to go in, on, or throughplay

    Example:

    Blow my hair dry

    Classified under:

    Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    direct; send (cause to go somewhere)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    blast (apply a draft or strong wind to to)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s something

    Derivation:

    blower (a device that produces a current of air)

    blower (a fan run by an electric motor)

    Sense 15

    Meaning:

    Provide sexual gratification through oral stimulationplay

    Synonyms:

    blow; fellate; go down on; suck

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    excite; stimulate; stir (stir feelings in)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s somebody

    Sense 16

    Meaning:

    Play or sound a wind instrumentplay

    Example:

    She blew the horn

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    sound (cause to sound)

    Verb group:

    blow (make a sound as if blown)

    blow (sound by having air expelled through a tube)

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 17

    Meaning:

    Make a sound as if blownplay

    Example:

    The whistle blew

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

    Verb group:

    blow (play or sound a wind instrument)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Derivation:

    blow (forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth)

    Sense 18

    Meaning:

    Sound by having air expelled through a tubeplay

    Example:

    The trumpets blew

    Classified under:

    Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

    Verb group:

    blow (play or sound a wind instrument)

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Sense 19

    Meaning:

    Spend lavishly or wastefully onplay

    Example:

    He blew a lot of money on his new home theater

    Classified under:

    Verbs of buying, selling, owning

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    drop; expend; spend (pay out)

    Verb group:

    blow; squander; waste (spend thoughtlessly; throw away)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s something
    Somebody ----s something on somebody

    Sense 20

    Meaning:

    Spend thoughtlessly; throw awayplay

    Example:

    You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree

    Synonyms:

    blow; squander; waste

    Classified under:

    Verbs of buying, selling, owning

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    expend; use (use up, consume fully)

    Verb group:

    blow (spend lavishly or wastefully on)

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    burn (spend (significant amounts of money))

    Sentence frame:

    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 21

    Meaning:

    Make a mess of, destroy or ruinplay

    Example:

    the pianist screwed up the difficult passage in the second movement

    Synonyms:

    ball up; blow; bobble; bodge; bollix; bollix up; bollocks; bollocks up; botch; botch up; bumble; bungle; flub; fluff; foul up; fuck up; fumble; louse up; mess up; mishandle; muck up; muff; screw up; spoil

    Classified under:

    Verbs of political and social activities and events

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    fail; go wrong; miscarry (be unsuccessful)

    Sentence frames:

    Somebody ----s
    Somebody ----s something

    Sense 22

    Meaning:

    Be inadequate or objectionableplay

    Example:

    this blows!

    Synonyms:

    blow; suck

    Classified under:

    Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

    Hypernyms (to "blow" is one way to...):

    be (have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun))

    Sentence frame:

    Something ----s

    Sense 23

    Meaning:

    Be blowing or stormingplay

    Example:

    The wind blew from the West

    Classified under:

    Verbs of raining, snowing, thawing, thundering

    Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "blow"):

    breeze (blow gently and lightly)

    set in (blow toward the shore)

    waft (blow gently)

    storm (blow hard)

    squall (blow in a squall)

    bluster (blow hard; be gusty, as of wind)

    Sentence frames:

    Something ----s
    It is ----ing
    Something is ----ing PP

    Sentence example:

    It was blowing all day long


    Derivation:

    blow (a strong current of air)

    Credits

     Context examples: 

    Usually, it also involves blowing air into the person’s mouth to help with breathing and send oxygen to the lungs.

    (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, NCI Dictionary)

    Learn how to do back blows, the Heimlich maneuver (abdominal thrusts), and CPR.

    (Choking, NIH)

    Pulsars are one of several types of stellar remnants that are left over when stars blow up in supernova explosions.

    (Pulse of a Dead Star Powers Intense Gamma Rays, NASA)

    C. tyrobutyricum is present in milk and causes late-blowing defect in cheeses with high pH leading to product loss.

    (Clostridium tyrobutyricum, NCI Thesaurus)

    You can also have one if you suffer a blow to the head or hit your head after a fall.

    (Concussion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

    This made her angrier than before, and she blew her silver whistle twice.

    (The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

    The cause is often a fall or a blow, sometimes from playing a contact sport.

    (Dislocations, NIH)

    Device problems caused by the sudden violent blow or collision to the whole device (e.g. by dropping).

    (Device Mechanical Shock Problem Evaluation Result, Food and Drug Administration)

    The sun's winds blow a bubble around it, pushing out against denser matter from other stars.

    (Sun sends more 'tsunami waves' to Voyager 1, NASA)

    Blown into space with the rising plume emitted through those fractures, the ice grains were then analyzed by Cassini's CDA.

    (New Organic Compounds Found in Enceladus Ice Grains, NASA)


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