blast off

blast

[blast, blahst]
noun
1.
a sudden and violent gust of wind: Wintry blasts chilled us to the marrow.
2.
the blowing of a trumpet, whistle, etc.: One blast of the siren was enough to clear the street.
3.
a loud, sudden sound or noise: The radio let out an awful blast before I could turn it off.
4.
a forcible stream of air from the mouth, bellows, or the like.
5.
Machinery.
a.
air forced into a furnace by a blower to increase the rate of combustion.
b.
a jet of steam directed up a smokestack, as of a steam locomotive, to increase draft.
c.
a draft thus increased.
6.
a forceful or explosive throw, hit, etc.: a blast down the third-base line.
7.
Slang.
a.
a party or riotously good time: Did we have a blast last night!
b.
something that gives great pleasure or enjoyment; thrill; treat: My new electronic game is a blast.
8.
a vigorous outburst of criticism; attack.
9.
blast wave.
10.
Mining, Civil Engineering. the charge of dynamite or other explosive used at one firing in blasting operations.
11.
the act of exploding; explosion: Some say the blast was in the next county.
12.
any pernicious or destructive influence, especially on animals or plants; a blight.
13.
the sudden death of buds, flowers, or young fruit.
verb (used with object)
14.
to make a loud noise on; blow (a trumpet, automobile horn, etc.): He blasted his horn irritably at every car in his way.
15.
to cause to shrivel or wither; blight.
16.
to affect with any pernicious influence; ruin; destroy: Failure in the exam blasted her hopes for college. It was an indiscretion that blasted his good reputation.
17.
to break up or dislodge (a tree stump, rock, etc.): Their explosives were inadequate to blast the granite.
18.
to make, form, open up, etc., by blasting: to blast a tunnel through a mountain.
19.
to show to be false, unreliable, etc.; discredit: His facts soundly blasted the new evidence.
20.
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.
21.
to censure or criticize vigorously; denounce: In his campaign speech he really blasts the other party.
22.
to hit or propel with great force: He blasted a homer that tied the game. They were blasted into outer space.
23.
to shoot: The terrorists blasted him down.
00:10
Blast off is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used without object)
24.
to produce a loud, blaring sound: The trumpets blasted as the overture began. His voice blasted until the microphone was turned down.
25.
to shoot: He whipped out his revolver and started blasting.
26.
Slang. to take narcotics.
Verb phrases
27.
blast off,
a.
(of a rocket) to leave a launch pad under its own power.
b.
(of an astronaut) to travel aloft in a rocket.
Idioms
28.
at full blast, at maximum capacity; at or with full volume or speed: The factory is going at full blast. Also, full blast.
Origin:
before 1000; 1955–60 for def 7a; Middle English (noun and v.); Old English blǣst (noun) a blowing; akin to Old Norse blāstr, Old High German blāst (derivative of blāsan, cognate with Gothic ufblēsan, Old Norse blāsa). See blow2

Related forms
blast·er, noun
blast·y, adjective

Synonyms
1. squall, gale, blow, storm. See wind1. 2. blare, screech. 11. discharge, outburst. 16. annihilate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins
World English Dictionary
blast (blɑːst) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  an explosion, as of dynamite
2.  a.  the rapid movement of air away from the centre of an explosion, combustion of rocket fuel, etc
 b.  a wave of overpressure caused by an explosion; shock wave
3.  the charge of explosive used in a single explosion
4.  a sudden strong gust of wind or air
5.  a sudden loud sound, as of a trumpet
6.  a violent verbal outburst, as of criticism
7.  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
8.  any of several diseases of plants and animals, esp one producing withering in plants
9.  slang (US) a very enjoyable or thrilling experience: the party was a blast
10.  full blast, at full blast at maximum speed, volume, etc
 
—interj
11.  slang an exclamation of annoyance (esp in phrases such as blast it! and blast him!)
 
—vb
12.  to destroy or blow up with explosives, shells, etc
13.  to make or cause to make a loud harsh noise
14.  (tr) to remove, open, etc, by an explosion: to blast a hole in a wall
15.  (tr) to ruin; shatter: the rain blasted our plans for a picnic
16.  to wither or cause to wither; blight or be blighted
17.  to criticize severely
18.  to shoot or shoot at: he blasted the hat off her head; he blasted away at the trees
 
[Old English blǣst, related to Old Norse blāstr]
 
'blaster
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

blast
O.E. blæst "blowing, breeze, puff of wind," from P.Gmc. *bles- (cf. O.N. blastr, O.H.G. blast "a blowing, blast," Ger. blasen, Goth. blesan "to blow"), from PIE *bhle- "to blow," probably a variant of base *bhel- (2) "to swell, blow up" (see bole). Meaning "explosion"
is from 1630s; that of "noisy party, good time" is from 1953, Amer.Eng. slang. Sense of "strong current of air for iron-smelting" (1690s) led to blast furnace and transferred sense in full blast "the extreme" (1839). Blast was the usual word for "a smoke of tobacco" c.1600. Blast off first recorded 1951.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

-blast suff.
An immature, embryonic stage in the development of cells or tissues: erythroblast.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Slang Dictionary

blast definition


  1. n.
    an exciting party. : What a blast we had!
  2. n.
    a thrill; a kick. : The roller coaster was a blast.
  3. tv.
    to shoot someone with a gun. : The speeding car drove by, and somebody tried to blast him with a machine gun.
  4. tv.
    to attack or criticize someone or something verbally. : He blasted his brother until we all left in embarrassment.
  5. n.
    a verbal attack. : The senator leveled a blast at the administration.
  6. n.
    the kick or rushfrom taking or injecting a drug. (Drugs.) : With a blast like that, somebody's gonna get hooked fast.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

blast off (for (somewhere)) definition


  1. in.
    [for someone] to leave for a destination quickly. : I've got to blast off. It's late.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

blast off

  1. Also, blast away. Take off or be launched, especially into space, as in They're scheduled to blast off on Tuesday. This usage originated with the development of powerful rockets, spacecraft, and astronauts, to all of which it was applied. [c. 1950]

  2. Depart, clear out, as in This party's over; let's blast off now. [Slang; early 1950s]

  3. Become excited or high, especially from using drugs, as in They give parties where people blast off. [Slang; c. 1960]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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