Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Blast?

\-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.