blow
1. blow \'blo-\ \'blu:\ \'blo-n\ vb or blew; or blown or blow.ing [ME
blowen, fr. OE bla-wan; akin to OHG bla-en to blow,] L flare, Gk phallos
penis of air 1: to move with speed or force 2: to send forth a current of
air or other gas 3a: to make a sound by or as if by blowing of a wind
instrument 3b: SOUND 4a: BOAST 4b: STORM, BLUSTER 5a: PANT, GASP of a
cetacean 5b: to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the
blowhole 6: to move or be carried by or as if by wind of an electrical
fuse 7: to melt when overloaded of a tire 8: to release the contained
air through a spontaneous rupture 1a: to set (gas or vapor) in motion 1b:
to act upon with a current of gas or vapor 2: to play or sound on (a wind
instrument) 3a: to spread by report 3b: DAMN, DISREGARD {~ the expense}
4a: to drive with a current of gas or vapor 4b: to clear of contents by
forcible passage of a current of air 5a: to distend with or as if with gas
5b: to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air {~(Xing
bubbles} {~ing glass} of insects 6: to deposit eggs or larvae on or in 7:
to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion 8a: to put out of breath with
exertion 8b: to let (as a horse) pause to catch the breath 9a: to spend
(money) recklessly 9b: to treat with unusual expenditure {I'll ~ you to a
steak} 10: to cause (a fuse) to blow 11: to rupture by too much pressure
{blew a gasket} slang 12: MISPLAY, MUFF 13: to leave esp. hurriedly
{blew town} : to be favorable at one moment and adverse the next - blow
hot and cold
2. blow n 1: a blowing of wind esp. when strong or violent : GALE 2a:
BOASTING, BRAG slang 2b: BOASTER 3: an act or instance of blowing from
the mouth or nose or through or from an instrument 4a: the time during
which air is forced through molten metal to refine it 4b: the quantity of
metal refined during that time
3. blow \'blu:\ \'blo-n\ vi or blew; or blown or blow.ing [ME blowen, fr.
OE blo-wan; akin to OHG bluoen to bloom, L] flore-re to bloom, flor-, flos
flower : FLOWER, BLOOM
4. blow n 1: a display of flowers 2: BLOOM
5. blow n [ME (northern dial.) blaw] 1: a forcible stroke delivered with a
part of the body or with an instrumen t 2: a hostile act or state : COMBAT
{come to ~s} 3: a forcible or sudden act or effort : ASSAULT 4: a severe
and usu. sudden calamity