verb intrans
said of air, wind, etc: to move perceptibly or audibly
The wind of change is blowing through this continent — Harold Macmillan
Dust storms had been blowing all night
to move or be carried by the wind or a current of air
Litter was blowing along the street
to send a current of air through the mouth or nose
to force air through (a musical instrument) to produce a sound
of a wind instrument: to make a sound
to make a sound by means of air or other gas passing through
They heard the whistle blow
said of a wind or brass instrument: to make a sound
said of a whale: to expel air and moisture through its blowhole
said of a tyre: to lose the air inside it through a spontaneous rupture of the casing
said of an electric fuse or a valve: to melt or break when overloaded
informal to explode or detonate
to burst or destroy (something) with explosives
informal to explode or detonate
informal to leave
chiefly NAmer, informal to boast
to set (air or other gas or vapour) in motion
(often + away/in/off) to act on (something) with, or as if with, a current of air or other gas or vapour
The wind was blowing the curtains
They blew the dust off the shelves
to force air through (a musical instrument) to produce a sound
to force a strong current of air through (the nose) to clear it of mucus
to produce or shape (e.g. glass or bubbles) by the action of blown or injected air or other gas
to burst or destroy (something) with explosives
informal to lose (a chance of success, etc) by failing to use an opportunity
informal to spend (money) extravagantly
informal to disregard (a difficulty)
blow the expense
informal to reveal (a secret or disguise)
said of an insect: to deposit eggs or larvae on or in (e.g. meat)
to make (a horse) out of breath with exertion
to let (a horse) pause to catch its breath
(also + out) to cause (a fuse or valve) to blow
to rupture (something) by excessive pressure
We've blown a gasket
informal to leave (a place) hurriedly
to remove the liquid contents of (an egg) by blowing through it
to vary unpredictably in one's enthusiasm or support for something; to vacillate
[with allusion to Aesop's fable about a satyr who afforded hospitality to a traveller: the traveller blew on his cold hands to warm them and then blew on his hot food to cool it, whereupon the satyr threw him out because he blew hot and cold with the same breath.]NAmer, informal to lose one's temper
to praise oneself; to boast
informal to lose one's temper
informal to amaze (somebody)
informal to cause (somebody) to hallucinate
Brit, slang to reveal a secret, esp something discreditable
informal to reveal (something secret, esp a wrongdoing)
informal to inform against (somebody)
an expression of surprise or refusal