Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

blast off

 - 7 dictionary results

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, esp. 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 fol. 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.
–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.
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.
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:
bef. 1000; 1955–60 for def. 7a; ME (n. and v.); OE blǣst (n.) a blowing; akin to ON blāstr, OHG blāst (deriv. of blāsan, c. Goth ufblēsan, ON blāsa). See blow 2


blaster, noun
blasty, adjective


1. squall, gale, blow, storm. See wind 1 . 2. blare, screech. 11. discharge, outburst. 16. annihilate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To blast off
blast   (blāst)   
n.  
    1. A very strong gust of wind or air.

    2. The effect of such a gust.

    3. A sudden loud sound, especially one produced by a stream of forced air: a piercing blast from the steam whistle.

    4. The act of producing such a sound: gave a blast on his trumpet.

    5. A violent explosion, as of dynamite or a bomb.

    6. The violent effect of such an explosion, consisting of a wave of increased atmospheric pressure followed immediately by a wave of decreased pressure.

    7. An explosive charge.

  1. A forcible stream of air, gas, or steam from an opening, especially one in a blast furnace to aid combustion.

    1. A sudden loud sound, especially one produced by a stream of forced air: a piercing blast from the steam whistle.

    2. The act of producing such a sound: gave a blast on his trumpet.

    3. A violent explosion, as of dynamite or a bomb.

    4. The violent effect of such an explosion, consisting of a wave of increased atmospheric pressure followed immediately by a wave of decreased pressure.

    5. An explosive charge.

    1. A violent explosion, as of dynamite or a bomb.

    2. The violent effect of such an explosion, consisting of a wave of increased atmospheric pressure followed immediately by a wave of decreased pressure.

    3. An explosive charge.

  2. Botany Any of several plant diseases of diverse causes, resulting in sudden death of buds, flowers, foliage, or young fruits.

  3. A destructive or damaging influence.

  4. A powerful hit, blow, or shot.

  5. A violent verbal assault or outburst: The candidate leveled a blast at her opponent.

  6. Slang A highly exciting or pleasurable experience or event, such as a big party.

v.   blast·ed, blast·ing, blasts

v.   tr.
  1. To knock down or shatter by or as if by explosion; smash.

  2. To play or sound loudly: The referees blasted their whistles.

    1. To hit with great force: The batter blasted the ball to right field.

    2. To kill or destroy by hitting or shooting.

  3. To have a harmful or destructive effect on.

  4. To cause to shrivel, wither, or mature imperfectly by or as if by blast or blight: crops that were blasted by frost.

  5. To make or open by or as if by explosion: blast a tunnel through the mountains.

  6. To criticize or attack vigorously.

v.   intr.
  1. To use or detonate explosives.

  2. To emit a loud, intense sound; blare: speakers blasting at full volume.

  3. To wither or shrivel or mature imperfectly.

  4. To criticize or attack with vigor.

  5. To shoot.

  6. Electronics To distort sound recording or transmission by overloading a microphone or loudspeaker.

Phrasal Verb(s):
blast offTo take off, as a rocket.

Idiom(s):
full blastAt full speed, volume, or capacity: turned the radio up full blast.

[Middle English, from Old English blǣst; see bhlē- in Indo-European roots.]
blast'er n.
Synonyms: These verbs mean to have a pernicious, destructive, or ruinous effect on something: actions that blasted the chance for peace; hopes blighted by ill wishes; ambitions dashed by lack of funds; plans nipped in the bud; a life wrecked by depression.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary
blast

  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))

  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
Word Origin & History

blast 
O.E. blæst "puff of wind," from PIE *bhle-, var. of base *bhel- "to swell, blow up" (see bole). Meaning "explosion" is from 1635; that of "noisy party, good time" is from 1953, Amer.Eng. slang. Sense of "strong current of air for iron-smelting" (1697) led to blast furnace and transf. 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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 2blast
Function: noun
: BLAST CELL
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
Cite This Source
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.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see blast off on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: