Definitions for: Blast


[n] a long and hard-hit fly ball
[n] intense adverse criticism; "Clinton directed his fire at the Republican Party"; "the government has come under attack"; "don't give me any flak"
[n] a sudden very loud noise
[n] an explosion (as of dynamite)
[n] a strong current of air; "the tree was bent almost double by the gust"
[v] use explosives on; "The enemy has been shelling us all day"
[v] hit hard; "He smashed a 3-run homer"
[v] make a strident sound; "She tended to blast when speaking into a microphone"



Webster (1913) Definition: -blast [Gr. ? sprout, shoot.]
A suffix or terminal formative, used principally in
biological terms, and signifying growth, formation; as,
bioblast, epiblast, mesoblast, etc.


Blast (bl[.a]st), n. [AS. bl[=ae]st a puff of wind, a
blowing; akin to Icel. bl[=a]str, OHG. bl[=a]st, and fr. a
verb akin to Icel. bl[=a]sa to blow, OHG. bl[^a]san, Goth.
bl[=e]san (in comp.); all prob. from the same root as E.
blow. See Blow to eject air.]
1. A violent gust of wind.

And see where surly Winter passes off, Far to the
north, and calls his ruffian blasts; His blasts
obey, and quit the howling hill. --Thomson.

2. A forcible stream of air from an orifice, as from a
bellows, the mouth, etc. Hence: The continuous blowing to
which one charge of ore or metal is subjected in a
furnace; as, to melt so many tons of iron at a blast.

Note: The terms hot blast and cold blast are employed to
designate whether the current is heated or not heated
before entering the furnace. A blast furnace is said to
be in blast while it is in operation, and out of blast
when not in use.

3. The exhaust steam from and engine, driving a column of air
out of a boiler chimney, and thus creating an intense
draught through the fire; also, any draught produced by
the blast.

4. The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the
sound produces at one breath.

One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand
men. --Sir W.
Scott.

The blast of triumph o'er thy grave. --Bryant.

5. A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind,
especially on animals and plants; a blight.

By the blast of God they perish. --Job iv. 9.

Virtue preserved from fell destruction's blast.
--Shak.

6. The act of rending, or attempting to rend, heavy masses of
rock, earth, etc., by the explosion of gunpowder,
dynamite, etc.; also, the charge used for this purpose.
``Large blasts are often used.'' --Tomlinson.

7. A flatulent disease of sheep.

Blast furnace, a furnace, usually a shaft furnace for
smelting ores, into which air is forced by pressure.

Blast hole, a hole in the bottom of a pump stock through
which water enters.

Blast nozzle, a fixed or variable orifice in the delivery
end of a blast pipe; -- called also blast orifice.

In full blast, in complete operation; in a state of great
activity. See Blast, n., 2. [Colloq.]


Blast, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Blasted; p. pr. & vb. n.
Blasting.]
1. To injure, as by a noxious wind; to cause to wither; to
stop or check the growth of, and prevent from
fruit-bearing, by some pernicious influence; to blight; to
shrivel.

Seven thin ears, and blasted with the east wind.
--Gen. xii. 6.

2. Hence, to affect with some sudden violence, plague,
calamity, or blighting influence, which destroys or causes
to fail; to visit with a curse; to curse; to ruin; as, to
blast pride, hopes, or character.

I'll cross it, though it blast me. --Shak.

Blasted with excess of light. --T. Gray.

3. To confound by a loud blast or din.

Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city's
ear. --Shak.

4. To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder,
dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks.


Blast, v. i.
1. To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the
blossom.

2. To blow; to blow on a trumpet. [Obs.]

Toke his blake trumpe faste And gan to puffen and to
blaste. --Chaucer.

Synonyms: attack, bang, blare, blow, blowup, boom, clap, eruption, fire, flack, flak, gust, loud noise, nail, shell, smash, strafe

See Also: bluster, bomb, bomb blast, bombard, criticism, crump, detonation, explosion, fly, fly ball, hit, make noise, noise, noise, puff, puff of air, resound, sandblast, unfavorable judgment, water hammer, whiff, wind

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