Dictionary.com Unabridged

blow

2 [bloh] verb, blew, blown, blow·ing, noun
verb (used without object)
1.
(of the wind or air) to be in motion.
2.
to move along, carried by or as by the wind: Dust seemed to blow through every crack in the house.
3.
to produce or emit a current of air, as with the mouth or a bellows: Blow on your hands to warm them.
4.
(of a horn, trumpet, etc.) to give out sound.
5.
to make a blowing sound; whistle: The siren blew just as we rounded the corner.
6.
(of horses) to breathe hard or quickly; pant.
7.
Informal. to boast; brag: He kept blowing about his medals.
8.
Zoology. (of a whale) to spout.
9.
(of a fuse, light bulb, vacuum tube, tire, etc.) to burst, melt, stop functioning, or be destroyed by exploding, overloading, etc. (often followed by out ): A fuse blew just as we sat down to dinner. The rear tire blew out.
10.
to burst from internal pressure: Poorly sealed cans will often blow.
11.
Slang. to leave; depart.
verb (used with object)
12.
to drive by means of a current of air: A sudden breeze blew the smoke into the house.
13.
to spread or make widely known: Growing panic blew the rumor about.
14.
to drive a current of air upon.
15.
to clear or empty by forcing air through: Try blowing your nose.
16.
to shape (glass, smoke, etc.) with a current of air: to blow smoke rings.
17.
to cause to sound, as by a current of air: Blow your horn at the next crossing.
18.
Jazz. to play (a musical instrument of any kind).
19.
to cause to explode (often followed by up, to bits, etc.): A mine blew the ship to bits.
20.
to burst, melt, burn out, or destroy by exploding, overloading, etc. (often followed by out ): to blow a tire; blow a fuse.
21.
to destroy; demolish (usually followed by down, over, etc.): The windstorm blew down his house.
22.
Informal.
a.
to spend money on.
b.
to squander; spend quickly: He blew a fortune on racing cars.
c.
to waste; lose: The team blew the lead by making a bad play.
23.
Informal. to mishandle, ruin, botch; make a mess of; bungle: With one stupid mistake he blew the whole project. It was your last chance and you blew it!
24.
Slang. to damn: Blow the cost!
25.
to put (a horse) out of breath by fatigue.
26.
Slang. to depart from: to blow town.
27.
Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio on.
28.
Slang. to smoke (marijuana or other drugs).
noun
29.
a blast of air or wind: to clean machinery with a blow.
30.
Informal. a violent windstorm, gale, hurricane, or the like: one of the worst blows we ever had around here.
31.
an act of producing a blast of air, as in playing a wind instrument: a few discordant blows by the bugler.
32.
Metallurgy.
a.
a blast of air forced through a converter, as in the production of steel or copper.
b.
the stage of the production process during which this blast is used.
33.
Civil Engineering, boil1 ( def 12 ).
34.
Slang. cocaine.
Verb phrases
35.
blow away, Slang.
a.
to kill, especially by gunfire: The gang threatened to blow away anyone who talked to the police.
b.
to defeat decisively; trounce: She blew her opponent away in three straight sets.
c.
to overwhelm with emotion, astonishment, etc.: Good poetry just blows me away.
36.
blow down, Metallurgy. to suspend working of (a blast furnace) by smelting the existing charge with a diminishing blast.
37.
blow in,
a.
Slang. to arrive at a place, especially unexpectedly: My uncle just blew in from Sacramento.
b.
Metallurgy. to begin operations in (a blast furnace).
38.
blow out,
a.
to become extinguished: The candles blew out at once.
b.
to lose force or cease: The storm has blown itself out.
c.
(of an oil or gas well) to lose oil or gas uncontrollably.
d.
Metallurgy. to blow down and clean (a blast furnace) in order to shut down.
39.
blow over,
a.
to pass away; subside: The storm blew over in five minutes.
b.
to be forgotten: The scandal will eventually blow over.
40.
blow up,
a.
to come into being: A storm suddenly blew up.
b.
to explode: The ship blew up.
c.
to cause to explode: to blow up a bridge.
d.
to exaggerate; enlarge: He blew up his own role in his account of the project.
e.
Informal. to lose one's temper: When he heard she had quit school, he blew up.
f.
to fill with air; inflate: to blow up a tire.
g.
Photography. to make an enlarged reproduction of.
h.
Mathematics. (of a function) to become infinite.
Idioms
41.
blow hot and cold, to favor something at first and reject it later on; waver; vacillate: His enthusiasm for the job blows hot and cold.
42.
blow off,
a.
to allow steam to be released.
b.
Informal. to reduce or release tension, as by loud talking.
43.
blow one's cool, Slang. to lose one's composure; become angry, frantic, or flustered.
44.
blow one's cover. cover ( def 52 ).
45.
blow one's lines, Theater. to forget or make an error in a speaking part or stage directions.
46.
blow one's mind. mind ( def 36 ).
47.
blow one's stack. stack ( def 23 ).
48.
blow one's top. top1 ( def 43 ).
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English blowen (v.), Old English blāwan; cognate with Latin flāre to blow

00:10
Blew is one of our favorite verbs.
So is lollygag. Does it mean:
to spend time idly; loaf.
to introduce subtleties into or argue subtly about.
LEARN MORE FUN, UNUSUAL VERBS WITH WORD DYNAMO...

blow

3 [bloh] noun, verb, blew, blown, blow·ing.
noun
1.
a yield or display of blossoms: the lilac's lavender blows.
2.
a display of anything bright or brilliant: a rich, full blow of color.
3.
state of blossoming; a flowering: a border of tulips in full blow.
verb (used without object), verb (used with object)
4.
Archaic. to blossom or cause to blossom.
Origin:
before 1000; Middle English blowen (v.), Old English blōwan; akin to German blühen to bloom, Latin flōs flower

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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World English Dictionary
blew (bluː) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
the past tense of blow

blow1 (bləʊ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb (often foll by up, down, in, etc) , blows, blowing, blew, blown, blowed
1.  (of a current of air, the wind, etc) to be or cause to be in motion
2.  (intr) to move or be carried by or as if by wind or air: a feather blew in through the window
3.  to expel (air, cigarette smoke, etc) through the mouth or nose
4.  to force or cause (air, dust, etc) to move (into, in, over, etc) by using an instrument or by expelling breath
5.  (intr) to breathe hard; pant
6.  (sometimes foll by up) to inflate with air or the breath
7.  (intr) (of wind, a storm, etc) to make a roaring or whistling sound
8.  to cause (a whistle, siren, etc) to sound by forcing air into it, as a signal, or (of a whistle, etc) to sound thus
9.  (tr) to force air from the lungs through (the nose) to clear out mucus or obstructing matter
10.  to explode, break, or disintegrate completely: the bridge blew down in the gale
11.  electronics to burn out (a fuse, valve, etc) because of excessive current or (of a fuse, valve, etc) to burn out
12.  slang blow a fuse to lose one's temper
13.  (intr) (of a whale) to spout water or air from the lungs
14.  (tr) to wind (a horse) by making it run excessively
15.  to cause (a wind instrument) to sound by forcing one's breath into the mouthpiece, or (of such an instrument) to sound in this way
16.  slang (intr) jazz to play in a jam session
17.  (intr) (of flies) to lay eggs (in)
18.  to shape (glass, ornaments, etc) by forcing air or gas through the material when molten
19.  chiefly (Scot), (Austral), (NZ) (intr) to boast or brag
20.  slang (tr)
 a.  to spend (money) freely
 b.  (US) to treat or entertain
21.  slang (tr) to use (an opportunity) ineffectively
22.  slang to go suddenly away (from)
23.  slang (tr) to expose or betray (a person or thing meant to be kept secret)
24.  slang (US) (tr) to inhale (a drug)
25.  slang (intr) to masturbate
26.  informal another word for damn : I'll be blowed; blow it!
27.  draughts another word for huff
28.  blow hot and cold to vacillate
29.  blow a kiss, blow kisses to kiss one's hand, then blow across it as if to carry the kiss through the air to another person
30.  blow one's own trumpet to boast of one's own skills or good qualities
31.  slang blow someone's mind
 a.  (of a drug, esp LSD) to alter someone's mental state
 b.  esp (US), (Canadian) to astound or surprise someone
32.  informal blow one's top, blow one's stack, blow one's lid to lose one's temper
 
—n
33.  the act or an instance of blowing
34.  the sound produced by blowing
35.  a blast of air or wind
36.  metallurgy
 a.  a stage in the Bessemer process in which air is blasted upwards through molten pig iron
 b.  the quantity of metal treated in a Bessemer converter
37.  mining
 a.  a rush of air into a mine
 b.  the collapse of a mine roof
38.  slang jazz a jam session
39.  a.  (Brit) a slang name for cannabis
 b.  (US) a slang name for cocaine
 
[Old English blāwan, related to Old Norse blǣr gust of wind, Old High German blāen, Latin flāre]

blow2 (bləʊ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—n
1.  a powerful or heavy stroke with the fist, a weapon, etc
2.  at one blow, at a blow by or with only one action; all at one time
3.  a sudden setback; unfortunate event: to come as a blow
4.  come to blows
 a.  to fight
 b.  to result in a fight
5.  an attacking action: a blow for freedom
6.  (Austral), (NZ) a stroke of the shears in sheep-shearing
 
[C15: probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German bliuwan to beat]

blow3 (bləʊ) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb , blows, blowing, blew, blown
1.  (intr) (of a plant or flower) to blossom or open out
2.  (tr) to produce (flowers)
 
—n
3.  a mass of blossoms
4.  the state or period of blossoming (esp in the phrase in full blow)
 
[Old English blōwan; related to Old Frisian blōia to bloom, Old High German bluoen, Latin flōs flower; see bloom1]

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

blow
"move air," O.E. blawan "blow, breathe, make an air current; kindle; inflate; sound a wind instrument" (class VII strong verb; past tense bleow, pp. blawen), from P.Gmc. *blæ-anan (cf. O.H.G. blaen, Ger. blähen), from PIE *bhle- "to swell, blow up" (cf. L. flare "to blow"). Slang "do fellatio
on" sense is from 1933, as blow (someone) off, originally among prostitutes (cf. blow job). This usage is probably not connected to the colloquial imprecation (1781, associated with sailors, e.g. Popeye's "well, blow me down!"), which has pp. blowed. Meaning "to spend (money) foolishly and all at once" is 1890s; that of "bungle an opportunity" is from 1943.

blow
"to bloom, blossom" (intrans.), from O.E. blowan "to flower, blossom, flourish," from P.Gmc. *blæ- (cf. O.S. bloian, O.Fris. bloia, O.H.G. bluoen, Ger. blühen), from PIE *bhle-, extended form of *bhel- (2) "to thrive, bloom" (see bole). This word is the source of the blown in full-blown.

blow
"hard hit," mid-15c., blowe, from northern and East Midlands dialects, perhaps from M.Du. blouwen "to beat," a common Germanic word of unknown origin (cf. Ger. bleuen, Goth. bliggwan "to strike"). Influenced in English by blow (v.1).

blew
O.E. bleow, p.t. of blow.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

blow definition


  1. tv. & in.
    to leave (someplace) in a hurry. (See also blow town; blow the joint.) : It's late. I gotta blow.
  2. tv.
    to ruin something; to ruin an opportunity. : It was my last chance, and I blew it.
  3. n.
    a setback; an attack. : Acme Systems Industries suffered a blow to its plans to acquire ABC Steel Widgets.
  4. tv.
    to waste money; to spend money. : Mary blew forty bucks on a secondhand radio.
  5. in.
    to become very angry; to lose one's temper. (See also blow a fuse.) : Finally I had had enough, and I blew.
  6. in.
    to play a musical instrument, not necessarily a wind instrument. : He blows, and everybody listens.
  7. n.
    and blow-out. a drinking party. : What a blow over at Joe's. I'll never get sober. , We blew out of the blow-out at about midnight.
  8. tv.
    to snortany powdered drug; to take snuff. (Drugs.) : Those guys spend all their time blowing coke.
  9. in.
    to smoke marijuana. (Drugs.) : He sits there blowing by the hour. How can he afford it?
  10. n.
    cocaine. (Drugs.) : You can get some good blow over at that crack house.
  11. tv.
    to perform an act of oral sex on someone, especially males. (Usually objectionable.) : Tom was looking for some bone addict who would blow him for nothing.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

blow (so) definition


  1. tv.
    to kill someone; to shoot someone. (Underworld.) : The boss said we was to blow you away if you gives us any trouble.
  2. tv.
    to overwhelm someone; to amaze someone. : The whole idea just blew her away.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

blow (so/sth) definition


  1. tv.
    to neglect or ignore someone or something. : Get it done now. Don't blow it off!
  2. tv.
    to cheat someone or a group; to deceive someone or a group. : Don't try to blow me off! I know what's what.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

blow (so's) definition


  1. tv.
    to impress someone; to overwhelm someone. : This whole business just blows my mind.
  2. tv.
    [for a drug] to intoxicate someone. : This stuff will blow your mind.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source

blow (sth) definition


  1. tv.
    to ruin or waste something. : I had a chance to do it, but I blew it.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
Example sentences
The impact ripped off his right hand and blew shrapnel from his sword and armor
  clean through his arm.
The pressure blew out all the junk they jammed in there.
Borders, of course, isn't going to say that the book trade is fine and sound
  and that it simply blew it.
But then they went a little bit out of their way to add some astronomy, and
  kinda blew it.
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