English Dictionary

Definition of “blew”

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Word Frequency

Word Frequency of blew

blew (bluː Pronunciation for blew ) 

Definitions

verb

  1. the past tense of blow1

blow1 (bləʊ Pronunciation for blow1 ) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms:  blows, blowing, blew, blown
  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. often foll by up, down, in, etc 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. See blow a fuse

  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. intr (jazz, slang) 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. intr (mainly Scottish & Australian & New Zealand) to boast or brag
  20. tr (slang)
    1. to spend (money) freely
    2. (US) to treat or entertain
  21. tr (slang) to use (an opportunity) ineffectively
  22. (slang) to go suddenly away (from)
  23. tr (slang) to expose or betray (a person or thing meant to be kept secret)
  24. tr (US, slang) to inhale (a drug)
  25. intr (slang) to masturbate
  26. Word forms:   past participle blowed
    (informal) another word for damn ⇒ I'll be blowed, blow it!
  27. (draughts) another word for huff (sense 4)

  28. See blow hot and cold

  29. See blow a kiss

  30. See blow one's own trumpet

  31. See blow someone's mind

  32. See blow one's top

noun

  1. the act or an instance of blowing
  2. the sound produced by blowing
  3. a blast of air or wind
  4. (metallurgy)
    1. a stage in the Bessemer process in which air is blasted upwards through molten pig iron
    2. the quantity of metal treated in a Bessemer converter
  5. (mining)
    1. a rush of air into a mine
    2. the collapse of a mine roof
  6. (jazz, slang) a jam session
    1. (British) a slang name for cannabis (sense 2)
    2. (US) a slang name for cocaine

See also

blow away, blow in, blow into, blow off, blow on, blow out, blow over, blow through, blow up

Word Origin

Old English blāwan, related to Old Norse blǣr gust of wind, Old High German blāen, Latin flāre

Synonyms

View thesaurus entry
= gust, blast, puff
= move, carry, drive, bear, sweep, toss, fling, whisk, buffet, whirl, waft
= be carried, move, travel, flow, float, hover, flutter, whirl, waft, flit, flitter
= exhale, breathe, pant, puff, breathe out, expel air
= puff out, expel, send out, emit, give out, breathe out
= play, sound, pipe, trumpet, blare, toot
= unblock, clear, unclog
= blast
= spend, waste, squander, consume, run through, use up, dissipate, fritter away
= ruin, spoil, screw up, botch, mess up, cock up, fuck up, make a mess of, muff, foul up, make a nonsense of, bodge, make a pig's ear of, flub, crool or cruel, louse up
= short-circuit, go, break, fuse, burn out
= burst, puncture, split, explode, blow out, rupture
= puff, breathe, pant, gasp, gulp, wheeze, exhale
= gust, wind, blast, puff, gale, flurry, draught, tempest, strong breeze

blow3 (bləʊ Pronunciation for blow3 ) 

Definitions

verb

Word forms:  blows, blowing, blew, blown
  1. intr (of a plant or flower) to blossom or open out
  2. tr to produce (flowers)

noun

  1. a mass of blossoms
  2. the state or period of blossoming (esp in the phrase in full blow)

Word Origin

Old English blōwan; related to Old Frisian blōia to bloom, Old High German bluoen, Latin flōs flower; see bloom1

Example Sentences Including 'blew'

A piece of grit had lodged on the side of his nose and Aisha blew the speck away.
James Runcie THE COLOUR OF HEAVEN (2003)
As Green was escorted out of the courtroom he turned and blew a kiss to the women.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
Finally, she came to the end of her tears and blew her nose in a tissue.
Peter Robinson AFTERMATH (2001)
It's cut like a rock video, and the girl uncannily resembles the 17-year-old who blew herself up.
Globe and Mail (2003)
My favourite was:'It was raining and the chip papers blew across the Airdrie high street like tumbleweed.
Glasgow Herald (2001)
She felt Adam behind her and hugged her arms about herself as a cold wind blew into the house.
Stuart Harrison LOST SUMMER (2002)
She was not scheduled to come home until 2003. Gudinski said: "I saw two shows in Manchester and it just blew my mind.
NME (New Musical Express) (2002)
The UN Secretary-General blew his neutrality five years ago by trying to appease Saddam Hussein.
Globe and Mail (2003)
They both settled down in their beds and Alpiew blew out the candle.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A Countess Ashby de la Zouche Mystery (2002)

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