blow

I. verb (blew; blown; blowing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English blāwan; akin to Old High German blāen to blow, Latin flare, Greek phallos penis Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. of air (1) to be in motion <

a breeze blew gently

> (2) to move with speed or force <

the wind was blowing

> b. to move or run quickly <

the linebacker blew past the tackle

> 2. to send forth a current of air or other gas <

don't blow on your soup

> 3. a. to make a sound by or as if by blowing b. of a wind instrument sound 4. a. boast b. to talk windily 5. a. pant, gasp <

the horse blew heavily

> b. of a cetacean to eject moisture-laden air from the lungs through the blowhole 6. to move or be carried by or as if by wind <

just blew into town

> 7. a. erupt, explode b. of an electric fuse to melt when overloaded — often used with out c. of a tire to release the contained air through a spontaneous rupture — usually used with out transitive verb 1. a. to set (gas or vapor) in motion <

the fan blew hot air on us

> b. to act on with a current of gas or vapor <

the breeze blew my hair dry

> 2. a. to play or sound on (a wind instrument) b. to play (as a note) on a wind instrument 3. a. to spread by report b. past participle blowed damn <

blow the expense

> 4. a. to drive with a current of gas or vapor <

the storm blew the boat off course

> b. to clear of contents by forcible passage of a current of air <

blow your nose

> c. to project (a gesture or sound made with the mouth) by blowing <

blew him a kiss

> 5. a. to distend with or as if with gas b. to produce or shape by the action of blown or injected air <

blowing bubbles

> 6. of insects to deposit eggs or larvae on or in 7. to shatter, burst, or destroy by explosion <

blow the safe open

> 8. a. to put out of breath with exertion b. to let (as a horse) pause to catch the breath 9. a. to expend (as money) extravagantly b. to treat with unusual expenditure <

I'll blow you to a steak

> 10. to cause (a fuse) to blow 11. to rupture by too much pressure <

blow a seal

> 12. a. botch 1 <

blew her lines

> b. to fail to keep or hold <

they blew a big lead

> 13. to leave hurriedly <

blew town

> 14. to propel with great force or speed <

blew a fastball by the batter

> II. noun Date: 1651 1. a blowing of wind especially when strong or violent 2. brag, boasting 3. an act or instance of blowing 4. a. the time during which air is forced through molten metal to refine it b. the quantity of metal refined during that time 5. slang cocaine III. intransitive verb (blew; blown; blowing) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English blōwan; akin to Old High German bluoen to bloom, Latin florēre to bloom, flor-, flos flower Date: before 12th century flower, bloom IV. noun Date: 1710 1. blossoms 2. bloom II,1b <

lilacs in full blow

> V. noun Etymology: Middle English (northern dialect) blaw; probably akin to Old High German bliuwan to beat Date: 15th century 1. a forcible stroke delivered with a part of the body or with an instrument 2. a hostile act or state ; combat <

come to blows

> 3. a forcible or sudden act or effort ; assault 4. an unfortunate or calamitous happening <

failure to land the job came as a blow

>