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1. A powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
   "a blow on the head"
    
2. An impact (as from a collision)
   "the blow threw him off the bicycle";
   - bump
    
3. An unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
   - reverse, reversal, setback, black eye
    
4. An unpleasant or disappointing surprise
   "it came as a blow to learn that he was injured";
   - shock
    
5. A strong current of air
   "the tree was bent almost double by the blow";
   - gust, blast
    
6. Forceful exhalation through the nose or mouth
   "he gave his nose a loud blow";
   - puff
    
7. [slang] A street name for cocaine
   - coke [slang], nose candy [slang], snow [slang], C [slang]

1. Exhale hard
   "blow on the soup to cool it down"
    
2. Be blowing or storming
   "The wind blew from the West"
    
3. Free of obstruction by blowing air through
   "blow one's nose"
    
4. Be in motion due to some air or water current
   "The leaves were blowing in the wind";
   - float, drift, be adrift
    
5. Make a sound as if blown
   "The whistle blew"
    
6. Shape by blowing
   "Blow a glass vase"
    
7. [informal] Be inadequate or objectionable
   "this blows!";
   - suck [informal]
    
8. Make a mess of, destroy or ruin
   "I blew the dinner and we had to eat out";
   - botch, bodge [Brit, informal], bumble, fumble, botch up, muff [informal], flub [N. Amer, informal], screw up [informal], spoil, muck up [informal], bungle, fluff [informal], bobble [N. Amer], mishandle, louse up [informal], foul up, mess up, butcher, goof up [informal], cock up [Brit, informal], balls up [informal], make a hash of [informal]
    
9. [informal] Spend thoughtlessly; throw away
   "He blew his inheritance on his insincere friends";
   - waste, squander
    
10. [informal] Spend lavishly or wastefully on
    "He blew a lot of money on his new home theatre"
     
11. Sound by having air expelled through a tube
    "The trumpets blew"
     
12. Play or sound a wind instrument
    "She blew the horn"
     
13. [vulgar] Provide sexual gratification through oral stimulation
    - fellate, go down on
     
14. Cause air to go in, on, or through
    "Blow my hair dry"
     
15. Cause to move by means of an air current
    "The wind blew the leaves around in the yard"
     
16. Spout moist air from the blowhole
    "The whales blew"
     
17. [informal] Leave; informal or rude
    "Blow now!"; "let's blow this place";
    - shove off [informal], shove along [informal]
     
18. Deposit eggs (of insects)
    "certain insects are said to blow"
     
19. Cause to be revealed and jeopardized
    "The story blew their cover"
     
20. Show off, esp. with exaggeration
    - boast, tout, swash [archaic], shoot a line [informal], brag, gas [informal], bluster, vaunt, gasconade [archaic], skite [Austral, NZ, informal]
     
21. Allow to regain its breath
    "blow a horse"
     
22. Melt, break, or become otherwise unusable
    "The lightbulbs blew out"; "The fuse blew";
    - blow out, burn out
     
23. Burst suddenly
    "The tire blew"; "We blew a tire"

Derived forms: blown, blew, blows, blowing

Type of: air current, amplify, be, break, break down, break open, breathe out, breathing out, bring out, burst, cocain, cocaine, conk out [informal], current of air, depart, die, direct, discharge, disclose, discover, displace, divulge, drop, eject, exaggerate, excite, exhalation, exhale, exhaust, expel, expend, expiration, expire, expose, fail, form, give away, give out, give way, go, go away, go bad, go wrong, gush, happening, hyperbolise [Brit], hyperbolize, impact, lay, lay bare, let on, let out, locomote, magnify, miscarry, move, natural event, occurrence, occurrent, overdraw, overstate, pack up [Brit, informal], put down, release, repose, rest, reveal, send, shape, sound, spend, spirt, split, spout, spurt, stimulate, stir, stroke, surprise, travel, turn-up [Brit, informal], uncover, unwrap, use, wind

Part of: combat, fight, fighting, scrap

Encyclopedia: Blow, Jonathan