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blow 1 (blō) Share: Tweet v. blew (bl), blown (blōn), blow·ing, blows v.intr. 1. a. To be in a state of motion. Used of the air or of wind. b. To move along or be carried by the wind: Her hat blew away. c. To move with or have strong winds: The storm blew all night. 2. a. To expel a current of air, as from the mouth or from a bellows. b. To produce a sound by expelling a current of air, as in sounding a wind instrument or a whistle. c. To breathe hard; pant. d. To release air or gas suddenly; burst or explode: The tire blew when it hit the pothole. e. To spout moist air from the blowhole. Used of a whale. 3. a. To fail or break down, as from being operated under extreme or improper conditions: The furnace blew during the cold snap. b. To melt or otherwise become disabled. Used of a fuse. 4. a. Informal To move very fast in relation to something: The boy blew past the stands on his bike. b. Slang To go away; depart: It's time to blow. 5. Informal To boast. 6. Vulgar Slang To be disgustingly disagreeable or offensive: This movie blows. v.tr. 1. a. To cause to move by means of a current of air: The wind blew the boat out to sea. b. To drive a current of air on, in, or through: blew my hair dry after I shampooed it. c. To clear out or make free of obstruction by forcing air through: blew his nose all through allergy season. d. To shape or form (glass, for example) by forcing air or gas through at the end of a pipe. 2. a. To expel (air) from the mouth. b. To cause air or gas to be expelled suddenly from: We blew a tire when we drove over the rock. 3. Music a. To cause (a wind instrument) to sound. b. To sound: a bugle blowing taps. 4. a. To cause to be out of breath. b. To allow (a winded horse) to regain its breath. 5. To demolish by the force of an explosion: An artillery shell blew our headquarters apart. 6. To lay or deposit eggs in. Used of certain insects. 7. a. To cause to fail or break down, as by operating at extreme or improper conditions: blew the engine on the last lap. b. To cause (a fuse) to melt or become disabled. 8. Slang a. To spend (money) freely and rashly. See Synonyms at waste. b. To spend money freely on; treat: blew me to a sumptuous dinner. 9. a. Slang To spoil or lose through ineptitude: blew the audition; blew a three-goal lead. See Synonyms at botch. b. To cause (a covert intelligence operation or operative) to be revealed and thereby jeopardized: a story in the press that blew their cover; an agent who was blown by the opposition. 10. a. Slang To depart (a place) in a great hurry: Let's blow this city no later than noon. b. Baseball To throw (a pitch) so fast that a batter cannot swing fast enough to hit it: blew a fastball by the batter for the strikeout. 11. Vulgar Slang To perform fellatio on. n. 1. The act or an instance of blowing. 2. a. A blast of air or wind. b. A storm. 3. Informal An act of bragging. 4. Slang Cocaine. Phrasal Verbs: blow away Slang 1. To kill by shooting, especially with a firearm. 2. To defeat decisively. 3. To affect intensely; overwhelm: That concert blew me away. blow in Slang To arrive, especially when unexpected. blow off 1. To relieve or release (pressure); let off. 2. Slang To choose not to attend or accompany: They wanted us to come along, but we blew them off. blow out 1. To extinguish or be extinguished by a gust of air: blow out a candle. 2. To fail, as an electrical apparatus. 3. To erupt in an uncontrolled manner. Used of a gas or oil well. 4. To defeat decisively, as in a sport. blow over To subside, wane, or pass over with little lasting effect: The storm blew over quickly. The scandal will soon blow over. blow up 1. To come into being: A storm blew up. 2. To fill with air; inflate: blow up a tire. 3. To enlarge (a photographic image or print). 4. To explode: bombs blowing up. 5. To lose one's temper. Idioms: blow a fuse/gasket Slang To explode with anger. blow hot and cold To change one's opinion often on a matter; vacillate. blow off steam To give vent to pent-up emotion. blow (one's) cool Slang To lose one's composure. blow (one's) mind Slang To affect with intense emotion, such as amazement, excitement, or shock. blow (one's) top/stack Informal To lose one's temper. blow/break open To get a sudden, insurmountable lead in (an athletic contest). blow out of proportion To make more of than is reasonable; exaggerate. blow smoke 1. To speak deceptively. 2. To brag or exaggerate. [Middle English blowen, from Old English blāwan; see bhlē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

blow 2 (blō) Share: Tweet n. 1. A sudden hard stroke or hit, as with the fist or an object. 2. An unexpected shock or calamity. 3. An unexpected attack; an assault. [Middle English blaw.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

blow 3 (blō) Share: Tweet intr. & tr.v. blew (bl), blown (blōn), blow·ing, blows To bloom or cause to bloom. n. 1. A mass of blossoms: peach blow. 2. The state of blossoming: tulips in full blow. [From Middle English blowen, to bloom, from Old English blōwan; see bhel-3 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2022 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

# Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

# American Heritage Dictionary Products

- The American Heritage Dictionary, 5th Edition

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- Curious George's Dictionary

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