blow

blowverb

To blow is to move air, to move something by sending air at it, to sound an instrument by blowing, to waste a chance or an amount of money, or, of a tire, to suddenly break.

1. of wind or breath(of the wind) move, or send air out of the mouth

   intransitive [I] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • A cold wind was blowing across the fields.
   • Blow gently on the soup before you taste it. V + adv/prep
   • The curtains blew through the open window.
   • It was blowing hard by the time we reached the coast. (of the wind)

   Collocations

   noun + verb the wind blows, a breeze blows

   verb + adverb blow gently, blow hard, blow softly

   1. asend air from your mouth onto something, especially to make it cooler or warmer

      transitive [T] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

      • She blew on her hands to warm them up. V + prep + obj
      • Blow on your tea if it's too hot to drink. V + prep + obj

      Collocations

      verb + preposition blow on something

2. move by airsend air at something to make it move

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] verb + object + preposition + object [V + obj + prep + obj]

   • The wind blew the leaves across the yard. V + obj
   • Blow the dust off the shelf before you paint it. V + obj + prep + obj
   • The strong wind blew several tiles off the roof. V + obj + prep + obj
   • The children were blowing soap bubbles in the garden. V + obj

   Collocations

   phrase blow bubbles

   1. aforce air through your nose to clear it, using a tissue

      transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

      • He stopped to blow his nose. V + obj
      • Blow your nose before you come to the table. V + obj

      Collocations

      verb + noun blow your nose

3. play an instrumentmake a sound by blowing air into an instrument or a horn

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj]

   • The referee blew her whistle to start the game. V + obj
   • Someone was blowing a horn in the distance. V + obj
   • He can blow the trumpet beautifully. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun blow a whistle, blow a horn, blow a trumpet

4. wastewaste money, or lose a good opportunity, by making a mistake

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj] informal

   • He blew his chance to score in the final minute. V + obj
   • She blew all her savings on a new car. V + obj + prep + obj
   • Don't blow this interview; you've prepared so well. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun blow a chance, blow an opportunity, blow your savings, blow a fortune

   Synonyms waste

5. burst(of a tire) suddenly break, letting the air out

   intransitive [I] transport

   • One of the tires blew on the highway.
   • The rear tire blew just outside of town.

   Collocations

   noun + verb a tire blows

   Synonyms burst

   1. a(of a small part that protects an electric machine) break, so that the power stops

      intransitive [I]

      • A fuse blew when I turned on the heater and the oven together.
      • The lights went out because a fuse had blown.

      Collocations

      noun + verb a fuse blows

See also blow up; blow out