Collins English-English Dictionary

blow [bləυ]

1. 1. vb [archaic] (of a current of air, the wind, etc) to be or cause to be in motion

2. 2. vi. [intr] to move or be carried by or as if by wind or air

   a feather blew in through the window

3. 3. vi. to expel (air, cigarette smoke, etc) through the mouth or nose

4. 4. vi. to force or cause (air, dust, etc) to move (into, in, over, etc) by using an instrument or by expelling breath

5. 5. vi. [intr] to breathe hard; pant

6. 6. vi. [sometimes foll by up] to inflate with air or the breath

7. 7. vi. [intr] (of wind, a storm, etc) to make a roaring or whistling sound

8. 8. vi. 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. 9. vt. [tr] to force air from the lungs through (the nose) to clear out mucus or obstructing matter

10. 10. vt. [often foll by up, down, in, etc] to explode, break, or disintegrate completely

    the bridge blew down in the gale

11. 11. vt. [electronics] to burn out (a fuse, valve, etc) because of excessive current or (of a fuse, valve, etc) to burn out

12. 12. vi. [intr] (of a whale) to spout water or air from the lungs

13. 13. vt. [tr] to wind (a horse) by making it run excessively

14. 14. vt. 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

15. 15. vi. [intr] [jazz] [slang] to play in a jam session

16. 16. vi. [intr] (of flies) to lay eggs (in)

17. 17. vi. to shape (glass, ornaments, etc) by forcing air or gas through the material when molten

18. 18. vi. [intr] [chiefly Scot, Austral, and NZ] to boast or brag

19. 19. vt. [tr] [slang] to spend (money) freely

20. 20. vt. [US] to treat or entertain

21. 21. vt. [tr] [slang] to use (an opportunity) ineffectively

22. 22. vt. [slang] to go suddenly away (from)

23. 23. vt. [tr] [slang] to expose or betray (a person or thing meant to be kept secret)

24. 24. vt. [tr] [US] [slang] to inhale (a drug)

25. 25. vi. [intr] [slang] to masturbate

26. 26. vi. another word for damn

    I'll be blowed

    blow it!

27. 27. vi. another word for huff

28. 28. n the act or an instance of blowing

29. 29. n the sound produced by blowing

30. 30. n a blast of air or wind

31. 31. n [metallurgy] a stage in the Bessemer process in which air is blasted upwards through molten pig iron

32. 32. n the quantity of metal treated in a Bessemer converter

33. 33. n [mining] a rush of air into a mine

34. 34. n the collapse of a mine roof

35. 35. n [jazz] [slang] a jam session

36. 36. n a slang name for cannabis

37. 37. n a slang name for cocaine

38. 38. n See also blow away blow in blow into blow off blow on blow out blow over blow through blow up

39. 39. n [Etymology] Old English blawan, related to Old Norse blær gust of wind, Old High German blaen, Latin flare

blow [bləυ]

1. 1. n a powerful or heavy stroke with the fist, a weapon, etc

2. 2. n a sudden setback; unfortunate event

   to come as a blow

3. 3. n an attacking action

   a blow for freedom

4. 4. n [Austral and NZ] a stroke of the shears in sheep-shearing

5. 5. n [Etymology] C15: probably of Germanic origin; compare Old High German bliuwan to beat

blow [bləυ]

1. 1. vi. [intr] (of a plant or flower) to blossom or open out

2. 2. vt. [tr] to produce (flowers)

3. 3. n a mass of blossoms

4. 4. n the state or period of blossoming (esp in the phrase in full blow)

5. 5. n [Etymology] Old English blowan; related to Old Frisian bloia to bloom, Old High German bluoen, Latin flos flower; see bloom¹