blow
blow
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "blow" is /bloʊ/.
bloʊ: /bl/ (consonant cluster) + /oʊ/ (diphthong)
Word Form Variations
Base Form: blow
Third-person singular present: blows
Present participle: blowing
Past simple: blew
Past participle: blown
Noun (singular): blow
Noun (plural): blows
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To expel air from the mouth.
Definition: To forcefully push air out through the lips, often to create a sound, cool something, or move an object.
Synonyms: exhale, puff, breathe out, spout
Antonyms: inhale, draw in, suck in
Example: She had to blow on her coffee to cool it down.
To be moved or carried by air or a current of air.
Definition: (Of an object or substance) to be propelled or transported by the force of wind or a similar current.
Synonyms: drift, waft, sweep, move
Antonyms: settle, stay, remain
Example: The leaves began to blow across the lawn as the wind picked up.
To explode or burst apart.
Definition: To undergo a sudden, violent expansion and rupture, often due to internal pressure or a destructive force.
Synonyms: burst, explode, rupture, detonate
Antonyms: consolidate, solidify, compress
Example: The old boiler threatened to blow if the pressure wasn't released.
To ruin or squander (an opportunity or money).
Definition: To carelessly or unwisely waste or lose something valuable, such as an opportunity, money, or a chance.
Synonyms: squander, waste, mess up, botch, mismanage
Antonyms: save, preserve, capitalize, optimize
Example: He managed to blow his entire savings on speculative investments.
Noun
A sudden, forceful stroke or impact.
Definition: A powerful and often sudden hit or punch, typically delivered with a hand, fist, or an object.
Synonyms: punch, hit, strike, impact, thump
Antonyms: gentle touch, caress, tap
Example: The boxer delivered a powerful blow to his opponent.
A strong gust of wind or air.
Definition: A sudden, forceful movement of air; a forceful exhalation.
Synonyms: gust, draft, puff, waft
Antonyms: stillness, calm, lull
Example: A strong blow of wind nearly knocked him off his feet.
An unfortunate or calamitous event; a setback.
Definition: A sudden, unexpected, and often severe misfortune, disappointment, or shock.
Synonyms: setback, misfortune, disaster, shock, trauma, adversity
Antonyms: blessing, boon, success, triumph, advantage
Example: Losing her job was a major blow to her confidence.
Examples of Use
1. Literature:
In novels: "The eagle soared above the canyon, its wings catching the wind." (From a fictional novel)
In poetry: "He clasps the crag with hooked hands; / Close to the sun in lonely lands, / Ringed with the azure world, he stands." (Alfred Lord Tennyson, "The Eagle")
2. News & Journalism:
Newspaper articles: "Bald eagle sightings have increased in recent years due to conservation efforts." (The New York Times)
Online publications: "Golden eagles are facing threats from habitat loss and climate change." (National Geographic)
3. Entertainment:
Movies: "The eagle-eyed detective noticed a clue the others had missed." (Movie script)
Video games: "The player character unlocked the 'Eagle' skill, allowing for increased accuracy." (In-game description)
Music: "The band 'The Eagles' is known for their classic rock hits." (Band name)
4. Public Discourse:
Everyday conversation: "Did you see that eagle soaring overhead? It was magnificent!" (Casual conversation)
Sports: "He eagled the hole-in-one!" (Golf commentary)
Business: "The company is known for its eagle-eyed approach to quality control." (Business jargon)
5. Brand Names & Symbols:
Company logos: Many companies use eagles in their logos, symbolizing strength, freedom, and vision (e.g., the United States Postal Service).
National symbols: The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.
10 Quotes Using Blow
"The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind." (Bob Dylan, 1962)
"They couldn't blow up the world, so they just tried to blow up a part of it." (From the film Dr. Strangelove, 1964)
"If a man blows a horn in a forest, and no woman hears it, is he still wrong?" (Anon.)
"We all blow it. Sometimes we blow it big time." (John C. Maxwell, Thinking for a Change, 2003)
"A man can blow a lot of smoke, but it takes a woman to start a fire." (Proverb)
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression, so don't blow it." (Attributed to various sources, common idiom)
"I believe the common denominator of the universe is not chaos, but chaos plus squares, order plus randomness, blow plus inhale." (Terry Pratchett, Pyramids, 1989)
"It doesn't matter how often you fall, but how often you get up and blow the dust off." (Zig Ziglar, common quote)
"Don't blow your top." (Common idiom)
"If you want to blow something up, get a physicist." (Various sources, often humorously attributed)
Etymology
The word "blow" has a long and interesting history, going back thousands of years! It's one of those words that has stayed pretty consistent in its core meaning over a very long time.
The Very Oldest Roots (Proto-Indo-European): The journey of "blow" begins in a super ancient language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE), which was spoken roughly between 4500 and 2500 BC. In PIE, there was a root word, something like *bʰleh₁-, which meant "to blow" or "to swell." Think about how blowing air can make something swell up, like a balloon.
Moving into Proto-Germanic: From PIE, this root evolved into *blēaną in Proto-Germanic, the ancestor of languages like English, German, and Dutch. This word also meant "to blow."
Old English Comes Along: The first known use of "blow" in its verb form in English comes from the Old English period (before 1150 AD). Back then, it was spelled blāwan. Its meaning was very similar to what we understand today: "to blow (of the wind, bellows, etc.), breathe, make an air current; kindle (a fire by blowing); inflate; and sound a wind instrument." So, the idea of moving air with force was clearly present from the very beginning of its recorded use in English.
The Noun Form: The noun form of "blow" (meaning a strike or impact) appeared later, around the mid-15th century (Middle English period). Its origin is a bit less certain, but it might have come from a Middle Dutch word blouwen meaning "to beat," or a related Old English word that we don't have a record of. So, the noun meaning is separate from the "air movement" meaning in its direct origin.
In simple terms, the "blowing air" sense of the word "blow" is ancient and has been a fundamental part of the English language for well over a thousand years. The "impact" sense of the word came along much later.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Blow
Blow hot and cold: To keep changing one's mind about something.
Blow off steam: To get rid of strong feelings or energy by doing something active.
Blow a fuse/gasket: To suddenly become very angry.
Blow one's top: To lose one's temper suddenly.
Blow (someone) away: To impress someone greatly; to kill someone.
Blow (something) out of proportion: To exaggerate the importance of something.
Blow the whistle: To report an illegal or unethical activity.
Blow one's own trumpet/horn: To boast about one's own achievements.
Blow the lid off (something): To expose a secret or scandal.
Blow a kiss: To send a kiss by blowing air from one's lips.
Blow a chance/opportunity: To waste an opportunity.
Blow smoke: To speak in an exaggerated or misleading way, often to impress or deceive.
Blow over: (Of a difficult situation) to pass or subside without serious consequences.
Blow up: To explode; to become very angry; to inflate.
Blow a tire: For a car tire to burst suddenly.
Blow a gasket: (See blow a fuse)
Blow the budget: To spend more money than planned.
Blow the doors off: To perform much better than competitors.
Blow the cobwebs away: To refresh oneself by getting some fresh air or exercise.
Where the wind blows: Indicating uncertainty or where circumstances lead.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of blow from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
