blast

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   to shrivel, wither or mature imperfectly

   The plant blasted.

2. 2
   verb

   to shatter as if by explosion

   We blasted the mountain clean away, to teach it a lesson.

3. 3
   verb

   to criticize harshly or violently

   I blasted them for their cruel statements.

4. 4
   verb

   to fire a shot

   The gunman blasted away.

5. 5
   verb

   to use explosives on

   I blasted the pile of old computers with joy.

6. 6
   verb

   to hit hard

   The cops blasted the protestors with a water cannon.

7. 7
   verb

   to create by using explosives

   We should blast a passage through the mountain.

8. 8
   verb

   to apply a draft or strong wind to

   The air conditioning was blasting cold air at us.

Etymology

From Middle English blast, blest, from Old English blǣst (“blowing, blast”), from Proto-West Germanic *blāstu, from Proto-Germanic *blēstuz (“blowing, blast”). Cognate with West Frisian blast (“blast”), dialectal Dutch blast (“stubborn intent, drumming”), obsolete German Blast (“wind, blowing”), German blasen (“to blow”), Dutch blazen (“to blow”), Danish blæst (“wind”), French blaser (“to blunt, dull”). More at blow.