| blast |
noun |
A violent gust of wind., 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., 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., The sound made by blowing a wind instrument; strictly, the sound produces at one breath., A sudden, pernicious effect, as if by a noxious wind, especially on animals and plants; a blight., 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., A flatulent disease of sheep., 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., 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., To confound by a loud blast or din., To rend open by any explosive agent, as gunpowder, dynamite, etc.; to shatter; as, to blast rocks., To be blighted or withered; as, the bud blasted in the blossom., To blow; to blow on a trumpet. |